A.
It is the intent of this article to request the Cannabis Control Board of the State of New York ("Cannabis Control Board"), as established pursuant to the New York Cannabis Law, Chapter 7-a of the Consolidated Laws of the State of New York ("Cannabis Law"), to permit the Town of Wawarsing ("Town") to opt out of allowing on-site cannabis consumption sites within the unincorporated areas of the Town of Wawarsing, that would otherwise be allowed under Article 4 of the Cannabis Law.
B.
The recently established Cannabis Law, Chapter 7-a provides in Article 6, § 131, that the licensure and establishment of on-site consumption license under the provisions of Article 4 of Chapter 7-a shall not be applicable to a Town which, after the effective date of the Cannabis Law, which was March 31, 2021, and before December 31, 2021, adopts a local law, subject to permissive referendum as governed by § 24 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, requesting the Cannabis Control Board to prohibit the establishment of such on-site consumption license contained in Article 4 of the Cannabis Law within the jurisdiction of the Town.
C.
The Town Board finds that, at the current time, it is in the best interests of the residents of the Town of Wawarsing to adopt a local law as per Cannabis Law § 131 prohibiting and requesting the Cannabis Control Board to prohibit the establishment of retail dispensary licenses and on-site consumption licenses that would otherwise be allowed under Article 4 of the Cannabis Law. The Town Board finds that permitting such establishments without reviewing the unique and novel impact that the establishment of such businesses would have on the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Wawarsing given, among other things, the relative close proximity of commercial locations within such establishments might be located to parks, churches and residential zones throughout the Town, coupled with as yet unresolved issues addressing enforcement of the new laws and guidelines related to cannabis use, would not be at the current time in the interests of Town residents. The Town adopts this article in accordance with the time frame and guidelines as set forth in Chapter 7-a, subsequent to March 31, 2021, and prior to December 31, 2021.