Hope for getting the stench of weed off New York’s streets

 Let’s hand it to Glen Cove, the Long Island town that just banned pot-smoking in public areas; if only New York City would follow suit.

We’re not prudes, but far too much of Gotham now reeks of skunkweed.

It’s terrible for little kids, and not good for older ones; it’s offensive to most adults and a signal of disorder.

Our laws (and law enforcement) discourage public alcohol consumption, and booze doesn’t even stink.

Even in the other states that have legalized marijuana, bans against toking in public remain largely intact: Tolerating private vice is one thing; handing over public parks, playgrounds, beaches and sidewalks is something else entirely.

What actually makes Glen Cove a New York first is that it banned reefer (with fines of $100 for a first offense, $250 thereafter) even in areas where it allows tobacco smoking; that’s eminently defensible as pot smoke (especially from modern weed) is far more pungent.

And if the courts find some reason to toss this out, the Legislature absolutely needs to grant localities the right to follow Glen Cove.

Get high in your own space; leave the rest of us alone.

https://nypost.com/2025/12/12/opinion/hallelujah-hope-for-getting-the-stench-of-weed-off-new-yorks-streets/