Islandia Bans Medical Marijuana Sales
ISLANDIA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The village of Islandia is not one of the locations being mentioned as a site for any of the state's 20 approved medical marijuana dispensaries, but that didn't stop its Board of Trustees from passing a law anyway making the sale of pot there illegal.
Some residents praised the pre-emptive rejection.
"It could destroy your life," one man told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs. "Just say no."
"Kids are going to abuse that stuff," another man said. "Especially I have three stepkids, so I don't want them anywhere near that stuff."
Islandia Mayor Allan Dorman said he believes medical marijuana should only be distributed by doctors, not in stores.
In Riverhead, some lawmakers are pushing for a moratorium on medical pot sales, citing concerns of the drug's proximity to children, additional traffic and increased crime.
The New York law is stricter than those in other states. It does not allow the plant to be smoked or eaten, but instead dispensed in forms such as drops, capsules or vapor.
The program is slated to start in January.
In July, the state selected five companies to operate the program. Each company will grow the pot in one location and then sell it at four other locations.
