Dozens of politicians and community members gathered Wednesday to protest the opening of a legal marijuana dispensary on Staten Island, complaining of a lack of transparency from the state’s cannabis headquarters and opposition from the local council.

Michael Tannousis, NYS Assembly Member (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) gathered with parents, education advocates, fellow politicians and others in front of Clouditude at 4034 Hylan Blvd. to protest the planned opening of the store and demand more transparency from the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).

Although Staten Island’s Community Board 3 rejected the proposal to open Clouditude Dispensary, which would replace a decades-old hardware store that closed this year, OCM approved the licensing.

amNew York Metro contacted OCM with questions about the licensing timeline and the agency’s approval criteria, but received no response.

Tannousis, a staunch opponent of marijuana legalization, said his office receives numerous calls and complaints protesting the opening of this and similar legal dispensaries.

“It’s not just that this location is not a good location for a cannabis dispensary, no location is a good location for a cannabis dispensary,” he said.

The Assembly member told the crowd that he plans to introduce a bill in the New York State Assembly this week that would require OCM to notify the Assembly and Senate representing the district in which the dispensary or on-site consumption location will be located within 30 days of receiving an application.

The bill also requires the applicant’s name, retail store location and other relevant information to be posted on OCM’s website.

The state was “never ready” to open legal cannabis shops

So far, 165 adult-use cannabis dispensaries have opened in New York since the state legalized the drug in March 2021. Prospective marijuana retailers who wish to open and operate a legal marijuana bar in New York must obtain a Conditional Adult-Uses Retail Dispensary (CAURD) from the OCM.

Tannousis said Clouditude, the site at issue in Tuesday’s meeting, was too close to schools, shopping malls and restaurants that are frequently visited by families and children.

“This location itself complies with the law passed by the New York State Legislature,” he explained. “However, it is still not far from my alma mater, IS 24. I can tell you that as a student at IS 24, I and other students I went to school with walked these blocks. There are other areas here where we walk with our families.”

As Tannousis spoke, a boy on a bicycle who looked to be in his early teens shouted to the crowd, “Open the marijuana store!”

Tannousis said the state is not ready to legalize marijuana. Among his arguments is that, unlike alcohol, there are no on-the-spot tests to determine whether a driver is operating a vehicle under the influence of the drug.

Currently, the only way police can determine whether a driver was under the influence of marijuana after a traffic accident is to conduct a blood test at the hospital. However, this must only be done after a judge has issued a search warrant.

The smell of marijuana also does not indicate whether a driver was high while driving a vehicle.

“Ironically, when a police officer approaches a vehicle and smells alcohol, alcohol can be used as evidence in court,” said New York Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R-Staten Island), a retired NYPD officer.

Tannousis reiterated his concerns.

“We were never at the point where we could pass a law to have dispensaries like this in our neighborhoods,” Tannousis said, pointing to Clouditude’s “Coming Soon” sign.

Celia Iervasi, who lives nearby and is a board member of Community Board 3, said she is “totally against” the opening of Clouditude.

“I see this as a stepping stone to addiction,” she said. “I know a lot about addiction. I’ve had family members who had to go to rehab. For me, this is very personal. I support everyone here very much. Our district needs to be heard.”

NYC: Crackdown on illegal pot shops

Meanwhile, city and state officials continue to crack down on illegal pot shops that are popping up in neighborhoods across the city. Most recently, a joint operation with the NYPD and NYC Sheriff’s Office busted a Warehouse in Astoria, Queensbehind which a huge amount of illegal marijuana and other cannabis products was hidden.

Goods worth several hundred pounds and a total value of $5 million were seized.

New York Sheriff Anthony Miranda told amNewYork Metro after the raid that the warehouse serves as a distribution center and supplies products to other locations inside and outside of New York.

“This is what is affecting the quality of life of people on the street,” the sheriff said. “However, we must continue the ongoing investigation to find out who is supplying these stores and where the goods are stored. This is also one of the responsibilities of the mayor’s office. This is part of the investigation that we will continue to conduct.”

So far, the Sheriff’s Office has shut down over 850 locations in New York. The state has also shut down about 200 illegal pot shops.