A pitcher poured marijuana from a jar in Los Angeles, California. 

Jack Conway, the director of East Greenbush, a self-proclaimed "hippie anthropologist," knew one or two things about the 1960s, when the use of marijuana was determined to be the main content of the counterculture, but it was not widely used or widely used by most Americans. accept.

"It turns out that marijuana is good for society and individuals, and more harmful than alcohol and tobacco," said the 69-year-old retired Assistant Professor of Skidmore College. "I only tried it once in 20 years." 

“How can it be illegal in a free country, but more importantly, unlike alcohol and tobacco, cannabis has 150 important medical uses, so it’s time to lift the entire cultural baggage of cannabis, because countless Thousands of people smoke marijuana very quietly. This country existed before legalization," he said.

Since Conway was a teenager, the acceptance of cannabis use has grown in decades. Last year, New York legalized the sale of recreational marijuana, and now local governments are deciding whether to allow marijuana dispensaries and lounges within their borders. Conway believes that his town will allow pharmacies. But some local suburban towns are not so welcoming.

Glenville, Niskayuna, Ballston and Wilton have chosen to ban cannabis stores. Colonie and Clifton Park are weighing legislation to ban people from smoking marijuana in break rooms.

New York is one of a dozen states that have legalized recreational marijuana. In the past half century, Americans' consumption of this drug has increased. A Gallup poll conducted in August showed that 49% of Americans said they had tried marijuana, but only 12% said they smoked marijuana. Fifty years ago, only 4% of people said they had tried this drug. In recent years, the proportion of Americans who think they smoke has hovered between 11% and 13%.

The East Greenbush Town Council will hold a public hearing on local laws on Thursday to opt out of lounges that allow on-site cannabis consumption. Conway believes that the leaders of East Greenbush will support the pharmacy. The formal voting is scheduled for December 15. 

Conway is annoyed by the tone of discussion in many cities as the community is arguing whether to open its doors to pharmacies and places where people can smoke freely. 

Cities, towns and villages can choose whether they need pharmacies and on-site consumption lounges within their limits.

To opt-out, the municipality must pass local laws before December 31, nine months after the state’s Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act takes effect. If the municipalities do not opt ​​out before the end of the year, they will have no other opportunity to do so. 

In the future, municipalities that opt-out can abolish local laws and allow shops and lounges to open. 

All local laws related to opt-out of retail pharmacy or on-site consumption permits require a permit referendum.

Cannabis sales will be subject to a 13% tax, while the state will impose a 9% excise tax. Counties and cities, towns and villages will share the remaining 4% at 25% and 75% respectively.

A pharmacy is a location, usually located on the front of a retail store or in an office building, where patients or consumers can obtain cannabis and cannabis-related items for medical or recreational purposes.

The state government must still articulate the rules and regulations governing the operation of marijuana dispensaries and other institutions. 

When passed last year, the state’s law immediately legalized the possession of less than 3 ounces of marijuana by adults 21 and older.

Niskayuna and Glenville have opted out of housing dispensaries and lounges because the use of marijuana sends bad news to teenagers and opens the door to issues that far exceed profits, taxes, and any other benefits.

Critics also expressed concern about the adverse physical, social, psychological, and social effects of buzzing driving, second-hand smoke, and marijuana on young people.  

Glenville director Chris Koetzle said the town wants to see what rules the state has enacted before deciding whether to enter the cannabis business. 

"We said,'Let us wait and see, see what the country has done in terms of regulations, how the market develops, let us wait and see, and then make a decision,' but the country told us that if we do not choose to withdraw until now, we will never be able to Opt out, so it makes sense to opt out and wait and see," Koetzle said.  

However, Mayor Christine M. Fitzpatrick (Christine M. Fitzpatrick) said that other communities, such as the Ballston Spa Village in October, voted to join with a narrow margin of 3 to 2. 

Fitzpatrick said: "There is a feeling that it is legal, it exists, and we will get tax because of it." She said that she supports the idea of ​​a pharmacy, but opposes the use of a lounge on the spot.

Conway questioned the idea of ​​marijuana as a gateway drug to other drugs. He said that East Greenbush might support becoming a hosting site for marijuana dispensaries.

"We have the Colombian toll road that needs to be revitalized for 15 years. We are making great progress. The 3% tax pharmacy on the Colombian toll road will be a game changer," Conway said. He added that neither he nor anyone else in the management agency had the grand idea that from the day the pharmacy opened, the town would have flooded with funds. "This kind of business can generate traffic, and it can generate people who stay in restaurants or grocery stores." 

He believes that in a few years, pharmacies will flourish, just as liquor stores have become a staple food. 

Peter Crummey, the former town judge and incoming colonial town director, said the town had approved pharmacies but had not approved on-site consumer services.

"We are waiting for how the state (regulations) will implement such agencies in conjunction with applicable planning and zoning laws," said Krumi, who took office in January.

He hopes that any marijuana proceeds flowing into the town’s vault will be used to fund marijuana education programs. 

He said the town committee’s decision was based on the advice of former Cologne police chief Jonathan Teale, who retired in June.    

Like Colonie and East Greenbush, many local governments rely on the expertise of police leaders to guide them. 

They can also consider state town associations as a resource. 

Sarah Brancatela, who works for the association, said that "many towns" have sought guidance from the organization "in order to better understand how the law works and its scope of authority." The association is on its website. A guide is provided to help. She said that the town’s opt-out was “mainly in response to the feedback they received from the community” and that the association has not yet taken any position on the matter.  

The Bethlehem Township Committee will consider the matter on Wednesday, said director David Van Luwen. 

A public hearing was held at the end of last month.

VanLuven said that none of the town committee members publicly stated their position.   

However, he pointed out that in this case, age is not just a number, but a barometer of how people feel about buying and smoking marijuana in public places.   

“One of the patterns I have observed is that the older generation believes that cannabis consumption is a bad thing. If on-site retail is to be carried out, it will be similar to an adult bookstore. Some people think that they want to enter secretly, while the younger generation’s perception of cannabis consumption is different. Their views on tobacco and alcohol are very similar. This is what a lot of people are doing. There is no shame or embarrassment for any reason. They will be very comfortable with retail pharmacies in the business districts of towns or on-site consumption," he said. 

Rotterdam is also about to vote.

Returning to Ballston Spa, Mayor Fitzpatrick said that village officials will now turn their attention to ensuring that the cannabis business is properly divided and that customers follow the rules and regulations, for example, so that people are not exposed to second-hand smoking.  

Paul Nelson is responsible for the police and courts in Schenectady County and the suburban towns of Niskayuna and Rotterdam. Contact him at pnelson@timesunion.com or 518-454-5347.