The Syracuse Common councilors gave final approval Tuesday to a local law designed to restrict illegal storefronts selling cannabis. They also revised an ordinance for already existing stores that also are selling the drug. The measures would be civil violations, and are not criminal offenses.
Councilor Jennifer Schultz said the city had to take action in the absence of state laws.
"I think this is a step in the right direction, from the codes standpoint, the certificate of use, because that truly guides what can be sold and what can't," Schultz said. "It remains to be seen how well these shops step up and do their part and not sell the illegal product."
The city finds itself in limbo because the state has approved the use of cannabis but distributed only a limited number of licenses to sell the substance. No one is allowed to sell cannabis legally in Syracuse or Central New York. Schultz said its become a widespread problem that's difficult to regulate.
"With a lack of legislation from the state level, the seller has the attitude of anything goes, 'they can't arrest me for it because there's no law saying they can arrest me for it,'" Schultz said. "It's a problem for me, from a health standpoint, because these people are going into the stores to buy this product, and who knows what's even in these baggies."
Councilor Chol Majok said that the concern isn't only about cannabis but includes fentanyl, which is fatal in very small doses.
"It's a matter of lives being lost because of overdose; things that should not be over the counter are being included in there," Majok said. "That goes back to what I was saying about unintended consequences that the state did not consider. Now, as local municipalities, we are struggling with that."
Majok said it's now up to code enforcement to follow through using their new tools. However, he said they'll continue to urge the state to provide the city with additional resources for the extra cost of enforcement.
