It was a full house at the town hall as the Town of Islip revisited its decision to opt out of cannabis sales within the township at the April 8 board meeting. Over 15 concerned residents in favor and in opposition to the idea were lined up to speak on the issue.

In March 2021, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, MRTA, was signed into law by former New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The act made recreational cannabis use legal in New York State. However, cities, villages and towns can each opt out of allowing retail dispensaries within town jurisdictions, which the town did back in 2021. If they didn’t opt out by December 2021, they would not be able to at a future date.

This further raised a concern for those in favor of opting out, because if the Town of Islip were to opt in, the decision would be irreversible.

At the March 11 meeting, the board mentioned revisiting their decision. The decision was favored by four of the five members of the town board.

Due to the large turnout, not everyone who had signed up to speak at the meeting was able to be present in the office. Individuals were waiting directly outside of the office on the second floor, as well as on the first floor. They were all able to watch from televisions that were livestreaming the meeting.

When it was someone from the public’s turn to speak, if they were not already in the office, park rangers called out their name to bring them into the office. Just like every other town meeting, each person was given three minutes to state their stance.

Those who were against the decision to opt in shared their reasons, mainly because of the impact it will have on younger individuals. Marijuana was often referred to as a gateway drug throughout the evening. Those who spoke included parents of those who have been affected by cannabis, educators, and concerned members of the community.

The first speaker was Cornelia Muntean, a mother of two and a pediatric emergency doctor at Good Samaritan University Hospital. She mentioned a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC, which revealed that from 2017 and 2022, there was a 44 percent increase in accidental cannabis ingestion for children ages 5 and younger. Cannabis products can often be found in the form of candies, cookies or gummies, which can resemble common sweet treats.

“At Good Samaritan Hospital, we have observed a significant rise in the number of young children that present to the emergency with severe symptoms,” Muntean said. “Altered mental status, respiratory, depression, and in some cases requiring mechanical ventilation.”

Those who spoke in favor of having the town allow cannabis retail shops argued that it would bring revenue to the Town of Islip to improve communities and it would allow individuals to purchase cannabis from a safe, legal retailer compared to an illegal vape shop or gas station.The second person to speak was David Tubens, owner of Planet Nugg, a cannabis dispensary located in Farmingdale. He countered that by allowing cannabis retailers to operate in the town, it would allow people to make legal marijuana purchases and buy products that are regulated and lab tested. It would also take away opportunities from those who may currently be selling illegally and not contributing revenue to the Town of Islip.

“These regulations combat the dangerous gray market where untested products flood the streets, often sold to our children,” Tubens said. “The reality is, there are dozens of illegal pot shops already operating in Islip right now; opting in gives us the power to shut them down and protect our community.”

Two students urged the town board to continue opting out, given that a large population of the Town of Islip is children who are far too young to be exposed to cannabis. Residents spoke on the proposal for nearly two hours. Each time someone finished speaking, they were applauded by the respective groups.

The motion to table the proposal until a later date was passed with a four in favor and one abstention of the members of the town board. Councilman O’Connor proposed having the public record remain open until May 15 to give those concerned time to share their thoughts on the matter. He also proposed to place it as a decision matter for the July 15 town board meeting.