The City Board has commented and does not want cannabis dispensaries and lounges within its boundaries until further notice. Opponents of the move have begun an attempt to force a referendum on the measure.

The state laws that legalized adult possession and consumption of cannabis, and which provide a framework for establishing legal sales in the state, also allow cities, towns and cities in New York to opt out of dispensaries and lounges. Sweden’s officials did so on 9 November.

But a head of the cannabis industry and a consultant who owns a potential pharmacy, as well as a municipal and land use lawyer from Irondequoit, work with Sweden’s residents to approve petitions to hold a referendum that the city uses the emergency law.

“I want to be able to do it in my own backyard and bring this industry to New York – which provides secure access, education, entrepreneurial opportunities. And then there are obviously a lot of tax revenues that come with it as well,” says Karen Tobin, a resident of nearby Kendall, Orleans County.

In September, Tobin and her business partner bought the former Citizens Bank building at the corner of Route 31 and Route 19 in hopes of turning it into a pharmacy. Sweden’s new law would prevent her from implementing that plan.

Permissive referendum, which is a mechanism established under state law, provides a direct way for people to challenge laws enacted by their local authorities. In order to trigger the referendum, a petition with a number of signatures corresponding to 10 percent of the ballot papers submitted to the governor by Sweden’s voters in the latest governor election must be submitted to the city clerk. There are 253 signatures, says Rachel Partington, a municipal and land use lawyer from Irondequoit who helps Tobin with the referendum.

“Really, the goal of this is to put this up for a public vote,” Partington said. “People can make their voices heard there. This is something where I think it makes sense to have the public involved. “

In Watertown and the Syracuse suburb of Manlius, petitions were submitted for a referendum on local emergency laws but were rejected. To date, there have been no authoritative referendums on measures to eliminate cannabis, although some villages in central New York have had preventive votes.

Swedish officials, as well as their counterparts in many communities across New York, explained that they opted out of the city from pharmacies and lounges because they first want to see what the state’s rules would be for both types of operations. The state has not yet published or implemented rules for recreational marijuana dispensers, so there are currently no licensed recreational cannabis companies in New York.

“The state is asking cities to make a decision on drastic and significant legislation, but has not yet provided most of the important details – in the form of necessary rules,” Supervisor Kevin Johnson wrote in an email in response to questions from STAD. “It’s another typical cramp-down from Albany.”

Sweden is not the only municipality in Monroe County that opts out of dispensaries and lounges.

Gates officials adopted a measure blocking both types of facilities in the city. Officials in the Village of Pittsford have set up a public hearing on Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. 19.00 on their proposed opt-out law, but they have been clear that they plan to hold a referendum on the measure. Partington explained that villages have the ability to do so but not cities.

Other local communities have been clear that they welcome cannabis companies. During a public meeting, Irondequoit Town’s board members confirmed that they would welcome dispensaries and lounges in the city. As mayor of Rochester, Lovely Warren was adamant not only about the legalization of marijuana, but also the economic potential of the new industry for the city.

The site in Sweden would be one of three exclusive cannabis dispensers that Tobin strives to own in New York – she also wants to open places in Syracuse and Manhattan.

“If it does not end up in the city of Sweden, I will choose another city,” said Tobin.

Tobin is not a newcomer to the cannabis industry, which she joined seven years ago after working on regulatory compliance, largely in the financial sector. She took the step after noticing that the legal cannabis markets that are emerging in states did so under supervisory regimes similar to those that govern the financial sector.

She has worked for cannabis companies across the country in both executive and compliance functions. Tobin currently operates a 52-acre farm in California and has previously built a seed technology platform for sale to cannabis companies. She believed the experience would give her a head start when New York legalized marijuana.

“I’ve been working in every state online for either medical or adult use for the past seven years,” Tobin said.

The round, glazed former Citizens Bank that Tobin bought was built in 1974 and was of an architectural style that was popular in the era – round buildings have been said to symbolize optimism. The building still has its vault, which can come in handy for a company that tends to trade in cash and stores a valuable product.

A sign in front of the building reads “City of Sweden” on its southern side and “Village of Brockport” on the north side, a subtle reminder that the village line is a block or so north of the intersection.

It is also a reminder that even though Sweden’s opt-out holds, the village of Brockport has not yet decided whether to allow dispensaries or lounges.

The village board will likely vote on the issue during its December 6 meeting, according to Mayor Margay Blackman. She supports dispensaries in the village, but expects the board to be divided.

Tobin and Partington know they have a lot of work ahead of them. But both see the potential for marijuana companies to provide an economic boost to the communities in which they are located. It’s not just about tax revenue, but about opportunities for new and existing companies, Tobin said.

“You get bumps and bruises when you first walk,” Tobin said.