Roksana Amid
Glen Cove has become the first municipality in Nassau County to ban smoking marijuana in public spaces, following two public hearings.
The hours-long hearing Tuesday night exposed a sharp divide over balancing community health with individual freedoms. The City Council unanimously approved the measure after hearing from dozens of residents, many of whom said the visibility and smell of marijuana in public areas has increased significantly in recent years.
The new law prohibits smoking cannabis on sidewalks and beaches, and in parks, public squares, parking lots and any other public areas. Violators face fines of up to $100 for a first offense and up to $250 for subsequent offenses. Councilman Kevin Maccarone emphasized that judges have full discretion.
“We specifically made it that way so a judge could say, you know what, go do two hours of community service instead of having to pay a fine,” Maccarone said. “There is no mandatory minimum in this.”
Supporters of the ban argued that it is needed to maintain the character of Glen Cove’s shared spaces. Resident Bruce Kennedy said the measure is intended not to punish adults, but rather to protect families. “It’s about protecting our children, our families and the health and quality of life of everyone that lives, works and visits here in the city,” he said.
Citing existing restrictions on alcohol and nicotine advertising, Kennedy said the proposal follows the city’s longstanding approach. “There is a time and a place for adult substances,” he added, “and our parks, streets, playgrounds and public spaces are not a place for marijuana use.”
Kennedy also raised health concerns. “It contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in tobacco smoke,” he said of marijuana, noting the risks to children and adults with asthma or respiratory issues. And, he said, public smoking sends “a powerful and harmful message that drug use is a part of everyday life.”
Opponents argued the law unfairly singles out marijuana while leaving tobacco largely unaddressed. Resident Jeff Peress said that cannabis alone should not be targeted. “If you’re going to apply a local ordinance like this, you should apply it to cigarette smoke too,” he said.
Peress added that the new law “targets a certain group of people,” and called for a broader discussion of all smoking. “Why not table this and go back to the drawing table and look at banning all tobacco products?” he asked.
City Attorney Tip Henderson explained that New York state treats the two substances differently. “They’re different products,” he said. “The state provides that municipalities throughout the state can put stricter requirements on the use of tobacco and marijuana in their communities.”
Some residents expressed concerns about fairness and enforcement. Norma Pinkney said that young people who spend more time outside would bear the brunt of the penalties. “I smoke weed every day. I love it,” she said. “You’re targeting the young people because I can smoke in my house. The younger generation are outside — they’re gonna get a fine for $100.”
Pinkney also questioned why public alcohol consumption at events such as Downtown Sounds is tolerated. “Everybody’s drinking in public,” she said. “We’re making a big deal about weed.”
Resident Scott Blanco, who supports the law, suggested mirroring existing cigarette-smoking areas. “You have smoking areas near public buildings,” he said. “Maybe a designated area where a lot of people go in a park.”
Concerns also arose about apartment residents who cannot legally smoke inside their residences. Councilwoman Marsha Silverman noted that Glen Cove has a large number of multifamily buildings. “There’s probably about 40 percent of residents that cannot smoke at home,” she said.
Silverman urged caution. “I do think it’s really important when we legislate that we don’t over-legislate, and we have to balance people’s rights with keeping other people safe,” she said, adding that the council should revisit designated areas in the future.
Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck said the measure was prompted by ongoing concerns expressed by families and youth organizations. She described an incident in a city parking garage when marijuana smoke drifted toward summer youth workers. “That was such an offensive experience to me,” she said. “This is what we are trying to do now — we are trying to do something about it.”
Parks and recreation Director Spiro Tsirkas said that smoke often drifts from sidewalks into fields even when smokers step away. The city, he said, has worked extensively to renovate parks and expand youth recreation. “We need to do something to safeguard what we’ve worked so hard to build,” Tsirkas said.
Some residents and officials said they viewed the new law as a first step rather than a final policy. Councilman-elect John Perrone called it “a bold step” and a “quality-of-life issue.” Councilman Grady Farnan described it as “a steppingstone” toward potentially addressing alcohol and tobacco in future legislation.
While the measure passed, several council members stressed the need for ongoing adjustments. Councilwoman Danielle Fugazy Scagliola said the council should continue evaluating how the law affects all residents, especially those without private outdoor space.
