After months of debates, town halls, and local votes, New York’s December 31st opt-out deadline for cannabis sales has finally passed. Statewide, nearly 46% of municipalities voted NO to allowing dispensaries, and 52% voted NO to consumption lounges. In Hudson Valley, county municipalities like Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess followed a similar statistical trend.

Here we review the status of cannabis dispensaries and consumption lounges in Hudson Valley and when New Yorkers can expect to make their first legal purchases.

Hudson Valley Counties and Municipalities: Who Opted In and Out of Marijuana Dispensaries and Lounges

According to the Rockefeller Institute, 54% of Hudson Valley’s nearly 200 municipalities voted NO on dispensaries and consumption lounges. Sure, that’s technically the majority, but these towns can reverse their decision at any time. Some have already indicated they might. For instance, Rhinebeck Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia said she supported dispensaries but couldn’t vote YES until New York establishes clear regulations for these businesses. Ulster Councilmen Eric Kitchen and John Marrow echoed similar sentiments about consumption lounges. So let’s just say 54% of Hudson Valley municipalities opted out–for now.

On the flip side, ninety Hudson Valley towns opted in–either through a conscious YES vote or by failing to decide. That means 46% of Hudson Valley localities will allow these businesses to operate within their borders, citing economic reasons as their key motivator. Municipal leaders in these areas see legal marijuana businesses as an opportunity to create jobs and collect tax revenue at the same time. 

Westchester County

Opt-Out: In Westchester County, 29 municipalities opted out of marijuana sales and consumption, including Dobbs Ferry Village, Bedford, Irvington, Port Chester, Pelham, and Yorktown, to name a few. 👇

Municipality
Briarcliff Manor (Village)
Bronxville (Village)
Buchanan (Village)
Dobbs Ferry (Village)
Eastchester (Town)
Elmsford (Village)
Harrison (Town)
Irvington (Village)
Larchmont (Village)
Lewisboro (Town)
Mamaroneck (Town)
Mamaroneck (Village)
Mount Kisco (Village)
Mount Pleasant (Town)
New Castle (Town)
North Castle (Town)
North Salem (Town)
Pelham (Village)
Pelham Manor (Village)
Pleasantville (Village)
Port Chester (Village)
Rye (City)
Rye Brook (Village)
Scarsdale (Village)
Somers (Town)
Tuckahoe (Village)
Yorktown (Town)
 

Opt-In: Fourteen municipalities said yes to dispensaries, including Tarrytown, White Plains, Yonkers, and New Rochelle. Amongst those areas, seven also said YES to consumption lounges, including White Plains, Yonkers, and New Rochelle. Five Westchester County municipalities made no choice, which means they automatically opt into the program.

Municipality
Cortlandt (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Croton-on-Hudson (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Greenburgh (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Hastings-on-Hudson (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Mount Vernon (City)
New Rochelle (City)
Ossining (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Ossining (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Peekskill (City)
Pound Ridge (Town)
Sleepy Hollow (Village)

Tarrytown (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
White Plains (City)
Yonkers (City)

Putnam County

Opt-Out: Putnam County, comprised of only nine municipalities, voted strongly against allowing any type of cannabis sales. Eight towns and villages said NO, including Brewster, Carmel, Kent, and Putnam Valley.

Municipality
Brewster (Village)
Carmel (Town)
Kent (Town)
Nelsonville (Village)
Patterson (Town)
Philipstown (Town)
Putnam Valley (Town)
Southeast (Town)

Opt-In: Only Cold Spring Village opted to allow dispensaries while saying NO to consumption sites.

Dutchess County

Opt-Out: In Dutchess County, just over half (18 total) of the localities, including Dover, Hyde Park, Millbrooke Village, Pleasant Valley, and Tivoli, said NO to dispensaries and on-site consumption bars. 

Municipality
Amenia (Town)
Beekman (Town)
Dover (Town)
East Fishkill (Town)
Hyde Park (Town)
La Grange (Town)
Millbrook (Village)
North East (Town)
Pawling (Town)
Pawling (Village)
Pleasant Valley (Town)
Rhinebeck (Town)
Rhinebeck (Village)
Stanford (Town)
Tivoli (Village)
Union Vale (Town)
Wappinger (Town)
Washington (Town) 

Opt-In: Seven Dutchess municipalities said YES to dispensaries, and one also said YES to consumption sites (Beacon City). Those areas include Clinton, Fishkill, Pine Plains, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook Town, and Red Hook Village. Five other towns failed to vote, which means they’ve automatically opted in.

Municipality
Beacon (City)
Clinton (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Fishkill (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Pine Plains (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Poughkeepsie (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Red Hook (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Red Hook (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)

Rockland County

Opt-Out: In Rockland County, ten municipalities said NO to dispensaries and lounges, including Clarkstown, New Hempstead, Orangetown, Suffern, and Stony Point.

Municipality
Clarkstown (Town)
Grand View-on-Hudson
New Hempstead (Village)
Orangetown (Town)
Pomona (Village)
Ramapo (Town)
Sloatsburg (Village)
Stony Point (Town)
Suffern (Village)
West Haverstraw (Village)

Opt-In: Combining four towns that opted in with ten towns that never voted, 58% of Rockland County municipalities will allow cannabis businesses when the time comes. Specifically, Wesley Hills said YES to both shops and bars, while Airmont Village, Chestnut Ridge, and Piermont voted YES to cannabis dispensaries only,

Municipality
Airmont (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Chestnut Ridge (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Piermont (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Wesley Hills (Village)

Orange County

Opt-Out: Orange County leaders overwhelming opted out (for now) of allowing cannabis businesses within their towns. Thirty leaders said NO, including Blooming Grove, Chester Town, Chester Village, Deerpark, Florida Village, Highlands, Middletown, Moro, and Montgomery. 👇

Municipality
Blooming Grove (Town)
Chester (Town)
Chester (Village)
Cornwall (Town)
Cornwall-on-Hudson (Village)
Crawford (Town)
Deerpark (Town)
Florida (Village)
Goshen (Town)
Goshen (Village)
Greenville (Town)
Greenwood Lake (Village)
Hamptonburgh (Town)
Harriman (Village)
Highland Falls (Village)
Highlands (Town)
Maybrook (Village)
Middletown (City)
Minisink (Town)
Monroe (Town)
Monroe (Village)
Montgomery (Town)
Mount Hope (Town)
New Windsor (Town)
Otisville (Village)
Tuxedo Park (Village)
Unionville (Village)
Walden (Village)
Wallkill (Town)
Warwick (Village) 

Opt-In: Six Orange County localities said YES to dispensaries, including Newburgh, Port Jervis, Tuxedo, Warwick, Wawayanda, Woodbury Village. Newburgh and Woodbury also opted into allowing consumption lounges. Seven towns are undecided, which means they’re in.

Municipality
Newburgh (City)
Port Jervis (City) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Tuxedo (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Warwick (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Wawayanda (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Woodbury (Village)

Ulster County

Opt-Out: Of Ulster County’s 24 localities, a mere four said NO to permitting cannabis businesses: Esopus, Saugerties, Shawangunk, and Wawarsing.

Municipality
Esopus (Town)
Saugerties (Town)
Shawangunk (Town)
Wawarsing (Town) 

Opt-in: The remaining 83% of Ulster towns said YES! Specifically, ten Ulster County villages said YES to marijuana shops and lounges, including Woodstock, Rochester, and New Paltz. Four other areas opted into dispensaries only: Gardiner, Kingston, and Ulster. Additionally, Six towns opted in by default.

Municipality
Denning (Town)
Ellenville (Village)
Gardiner (Town)
Hurley (Town)
Kingston (Town)
Lloyd (Town)
Marbletown (Town)
New Paltz (Town)
New Paltz (Village)
Olive (Town)
Rochester (Town)
Saugerties (Village)
Ulster (Town) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Woodstock (Town)

Greene County

Opt-Out: In Greene County, eight towns said NO to marijuana sales and consumption, including Ashland, Cairo, Greenville, Hunter, and Prattsville.

Municipality
Ashland (Town)
Cairo (Town)
Greenville (Town)
Hunter (Town)
Hunter (Village)
Jewett (Town)
Prattsville (Town)
Windham (Town)

Opt-in: Four towns, however, said YES, including Athens, Catskill Town, Catskill Village, and Coxsackie. Excluding Catskill, all of the above will be welcoming both stores and bars. And finally, seven towns have automatically opted in.

Municipality
Athens (Town)
Catskill (Town)
Catskill (Village) (Yes Dispensaries / No Consumption sites)
Coxsackie (Town)

When will New York’s Hudson Valley Dispensaries Open?

Before dispensaries can open in New York and throughout the Hudson Valley, the state’s Cannabis Control Board (CCB) must establish rules for marijuana retail sales. The CCB hopes to issue the first draft of regulations early this year, which will be available for comment for at least 60 days. After that, the CCB will establish a process for retail license applications. According to Tremaine Write, CCB chairperson, the first adult user dispensary licenses will be issued in 2023–‘at the earliest.’

The Bottom Line

New Yorkers may have to wait a little longer than expected, but the state is actively making progress toward the goal. And now that the opt-out deadline has passed, every Hudson Valley resident knows where their local leaders stand on the topic. The decisions are final in areas that voted to permit both sales and on-site consumption. Fortunately, towns that opted out can change their vote any time in the future. So Hudson Valley residents who don’t like the outcome of their leader’s vote still have time to make their voices heard.