Fredonia’s Cannabis Advisory Team set out a list of goals at its recent first meeting, its founder said.

Jon Espersen, who is a village trustee, told the OBSERVER, “The committee found it vital to set specific goals to ensure success of our stated purpose,” he said.

These goals are:

¯ Create the safest environment possible for implementing the marijuana program.

¯ Ensure a viable business environment for marijuana related businesses.

¯ Review existing village zoning laws.

¯ Prevent access and availability to children, adolescents and underage consumers.

¯ Keep abreast of regulations coming from the State.

¯ Educate the community regarding the implementation procedures.

Espersen noted, “During discussion it was clear that there were many misconceptions and confusion regarding existing laws and regulations, further highlighting the need for the advisory team.

Fortunately, the committee will have access to the (state) Office of Cannabis Management and to state representatives for information and guidance moving forward.”

He said at the Fredonia Board of Trustees meeting Monday, “One of the goals was to ensure that nobody on the committee was either an advocate or a detractor for the use of cannabis — merely to ensure that when the day comes, if it comes, and there’s a dispensary opening up, that it’s done in as safe a manner as possible, while creating a safe business environment for anybody that’s going to open a business.”

The advisory team is full, Espersen said in response to a question from Mayor Douglas Essek.

The team is supposed to have one more organizational meeting, with a date and time to be announced. Future meetings will be open for public observation.

Fredonia chose to “opt in” on state placement of cannabis dispensaries in 2021, and Espersen created the advisory team in response to that. He was elected as a trustee in November and did not take part in the decision to opt in.

“We acknowledge that the state of New York has legalized the use of cannabis and the village did not opt out of potential cannabis businesses in Fredonia,” he said. “Once a municipality has opted in (or failed to opt out), that decision cannot be reversed. Given those facts, we felt that the village needed to ensure implementation was brought about in as safe a manner as possible.”