NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Nearly half of municipalities in New York state have opted out of marijuana dispensaries, according to a recent tally.
As of Monday, a count by the Rockefeller Institute of Government shows that more than half of municipalities in the state have also opted out of marijuana consumption sites.
Of 1,521 municipalities in the state, 730 (48%) have opted out of dispensaries, while 830 (54%) have opted out of consumption sites or “lounges.”
The state’s largest cities—including New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse and Albany—have all opted in, while suburban municipalities in places like Long Island, Westchester and upstate have seen many localities opting out.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law last year making New York the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults.
Municipalities had until Dec. 31, 2021, to opt out of either dispensaries or consumption sites. If they didn’t, they were automatically entered into the retail market.
Residents of localities that opted out can still gather signatures for a special election to override the decision.
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