‘We’re In The Industry,’ Shinnecock Retail Pot Plans Weed Out Chance Of Long Island Opt Out

Local governments in New York have until the end of the year to decide if they will opt out of the legal sale of recreational marijuana. Any regional ban on Long Island would become moot as tribal businesses are being set up.

Rules to buy legal recreational marijuana will likely be different across Long Island and the rest of New York as local governments could choose to “opt out” of allowing sales in their municipality. 

That means cities, towns and villages would forgo a 4% sales tax — the state’s take is 9%. They also can’t stop residents from purchasing cannabis in the town next door.

“I’m of the mind that it’s going to be for sale anyway. And I think that we should regulate the types of places it’s available,” Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.