The Village of Cobleskill got a look at regulating cannabis, or marijuana, at the village board meeting last Tuesday.
Village Attorney Shawn Smith presented a proposed law about cannabis, though the village board took no action on it.
Mr. Smith’s proposal follows the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis earlier this month. The state law allows “municipalities to reasonably restrict the use of cannabis,” according to Mr. Smith’s draft.
His proposed law prohibits the use or sale of cannabis and cannabis products on public property in the village: “highway, street, sidewalk, park, playground, municipal owned building or public parking lot.”
Violators would be subject to a fine of up to $200.
Mayor Becky Terk said trustee will take up the proposed law in the future but said she doesn’t know how board members feel about it.
“It’s kind of like the open-container law,” that prohibits public drinking of alcohol.
“I totally agree with it. You can smoke at home but not in public.”
Mr. Smith’s draft is probably only a first step, Mayor Terk said. She envisions another law allowing stores to sell cannabis.
Because the state now permits such sales, “Why should we lose out on sales tax?” she asked.