Cannabis Dispensary a Go

A retail cannabis dispensary will operate out of the same location as the Weathertop Farmacy in the Village of Cherry Valley. Photo by Chris English.

By Chris English

CHERRY VALLEY — A retail cannabis dispensary should be up and running soon in the Village of Cherry Valley.

At the Monday, Aug. 19 village board meeting, members reviewed a letter from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management informing village officials that a license had been approved for the dispensary known as Peregrine Toke LLC at 11 Main Street. The village board had previously sent a letter supporting the license to the OCM.

The dispensary will operate at the same location as the Weathertop Farmacy that sells artisinal and local foods, drink mixers, herbal remedies, tea blends and other items. Mayor Louis Guido explained the the board's support of the dispensary comes with the condition that it abides by certain practices and doesn't violate village ordinances.

"We don't want people sitting out front at tables on the sidewalk toking on their pipes," Trustee Edward Harvey said at the Aug. 19 meeting.

The letter from the state OCM stated the license is valid for two years and can be renewed every two years.

"Cannabis law requires that the applicant notify the municipality again for license renewal," the letter stated. "The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act added cannabis to the existing Clean Indoor Air Act, which establishes prohibitions on where cannabis can be smoked or vaporized. The smoking or vaporizing of cannabis is prohibited anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited. Additionally, cannabis cannot be consumed when operating a motor vehicle, on school grounds or in a private business."

In other actions from the Aug. 19 meeting, the board approved a change in how the village's share of Otsego County's sales and mortgage taxes is allocated among village funds. The vote changes the current allocation of 75 percent of revenue from those taxes into the general fund and 25 percent into the water fund to a 50/50 split. Village officials said it should increase money going into the water fund, which they said needs a revenue boost, from roughly $5,000 annually to about $11,000 a year.

The board also plans to solicit bids soon for a Bobcat mini-excacator that will help with digging graves at the village cemetery, installing sidewalks and other work. Village Department of Public Works Superintendent Wayne Valentine will play a key role in that process.