Smoking marijuana in public could soon become illegal in Glen Cove, as the City Council prepares to vote tonight on a proposal that would ban cannabis consumption in most public places.

Since recreational marijuana was legalized statewide, residents across New York have grown accustomed to seeing — and smelling — people smoking cannabis on sidewalks, in parks - and even at the beach. Glen Cove officials say complaints about public smoking have been steadily increasing.

Mayor Pam Panzenbeck says residents have voiced concerns for years. Some say the smell drifts into places where families gather, including public beaches and recreational areas. In response, city leaders are now considering a local law that would make Glen Cove one of the strictest municipalities in the region when it comes to cannabis use.

Under current New York state law, adults may smoke marijuana in nearly all the same places they are allowed to smoke tobacco, with the exception of inside a vehicle. But Glen Cove’s proposal would prohibit all public consumption within city limits. If approved, it would make Glen Cove the first municipality in Nassau County to enact such a ban.

Opinions among residents are mixed.

“I don’t like the smell. It’s disgusting and I think they should ban it in public,” said Jennifer Consolazio, of Bayville.

Others, like Glen Cove resident Philippe Voegtlan, acknowledge the place cannabis now holds in society but believe boundaries may help.

“States have legalized it. It’s part of our society,” he said. “With that said, it’s probably best that it’s restricted to certain areas.”

According to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, local governments do have the authority to impose additional restrictions on smoking in public.

The City Council vote is expected later tonight.