Town of Hempstead officials announced on Friday that they will be holding a public hearing to consider a year-long moratorium on the establishment of recreational marijuana stores, dispensaries, social clubs and other recreational marijuana uses.

"America's largest township should hit the pause button for a year in order to give us, our residents, and our partners in the county sufficient time to study the issue and voice their opinions," said Supervisor Laura Gillen. "As New York State looks at the bigger picture of how the legalization of marijuana will impact the state, I think it is important that Hempstead Town taps the brakes and considers how these establishments will fit into our communities, particularly where it relates to proximity to schools," said Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney. "This is not a ban on marijuana sales but rather an opportunity for us to gather all the information needed to make decisions in the best interest of our residents. This moratorium is solely directed at recreational marijuana. I fully appreciate the need for medicinal marijuana."

Town officials said that Nassau County will be holding hearings and has created a task force to consider the impact of legalized marijuana, and said they would like to have the information from the task force before making any zoning decisions related to legalization. Both Gillen and King Sweeney said that their primary concern, especially as mothers, was ensuring the safety of young children. The town's current laws and ordinances do not include any specific regulations for retail marijuana uses. It is anticipated that, if the state does legalize recreational marijuana, the state will regulate and/or allow for local municipalities at either the county or town level to regulate the number and location of retail marijuana stores, social clubs, cultivation and manufacturing facilities and testing facilities.

With an eye toward the inclusion of information garnered from the county and recognizing that the state has not yet finalized the legalization, the moratorium would be in effect for one year. The town is expected to hold the public meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

"A rush to judgment on this matter is just not wise, and would be a waste of money and time," Gillen said. "We are giving everyone who lives here in the Town a voice in the process and will work hand in hand with the community as the state legislation is unveiled and more details are fleshed out."