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No major issues with marijuana smoking at the fair, interim director says

A picture of the New York State Fair on August 29th, 2019.
WAER File Photo
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WAER
A picture of the New York State Fair on August 29th, 2019.

At the New York State Fair this year, marijuana smokers were given the opportunity to smoke recreationally in certain areas on the fairgrounds due to fair policy.

Fairgoers could vape or smoke and occasionally smoke marijuana in non-designated areas of the fair. However, Sean Hennessey, the interim fair director, said a majority of fairgoers have been adhering to the smoking-only in designated areas policy. He said there have been no issues with marijuana.

“People can do it,” Hennessey said.

Hennessey said smoking was allowed in mainly outer perimeter areas of the grounds.

Since March 2021, recreational use of marijuana has been legal in New York. During his campaignat the state fair, Republican gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin said as a father of two teenage daughters, he is not in support of marijuana use at the fair.

Some parents attending the fair didn’t have a probably with the smoking. Erin Higgins, a Syracuse resident, brought her two kids to the fair and said she was unbothered about recreational marijuana use.

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.