Jonathan Gordon

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Dec 6, 2024, 5:14 AM

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Updated

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The latest adult-use recreational cannabis shop opened in the Town of Babylon today.

Long Island Cannabis Club, located at 94 East Industry Court in Deer Park, will be the first in town to open outside of the Farmingdale area.

"LICC is excited to welcome customers to our state-of-the-art facility, where our knowledgeable and friendly staff is ready to assist with any questions," a spokesperson for the business said in a press release ahead of the opening.

President Anthony Traina, a Deer Parkw native, called it a homecoming moment.

"This is a long time coming," he said. "Especially really excited to be in my hometown. Doing this in my hometown is really the nostalgic part for me."

Long Island Cannabis Club will offer hundreds of products.

The town has embraced the growing industry and has seen the financial results to back it up.

Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer told News 12 that the town has already received $1.8 million in sales tax revenue from these businesses. He added that money will help build a chemical dependency treatment center in North Amityville.

The industry has been on the rise all across Long Island. Last month, a cannabis store opened in Riverhead and another is scheduled to open there this weekend.

While not everyone supports its legalization, many who spoke with News 12 in Deer Park on Friday support the business endeavors.

"I have no regrets about it," said Mike Weizk who works in Deer Park. "It should be okay. It's legal now."

"It's legal, what are they going to do," another resident asked. "It's a functioning business right now, right?"

To address any public concerns about the number of legal cannabis retailers, Schaffer said the town is implementing new operating hour restrictions across the board. Stores will only be allowed to be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.