OXFORD — The Village of Oxford held a special vote yesterday, December 1, regarding the NYS Cannabis Opt-Out Legislation.

The proposed legislation allowed individual municipalities to decide whether or not they would legalize marijuana retail sale and on-site consumption establishments.

"We were hesitant on the board about exactly which way to go for a number of reasons, and so we simply let the voters decide," said Village of Oxford Mayor Terry Stark.

In total, the legislation received 63 votes in favor of opting out, and 94 votes not in favor of opting out. This means cannabis retail sale and on-site consumption establishments will become legal within the Village of Oxford beginning next year.

"They decided that we should move forward with legal dispensaries and on-site consumptions, based on whatever the state law allows or require," said Stark. "Relative to if this will be a good thing for the community or not remains to be seen. They'll have to apply to get a license in the Village. The state issues the license, and we just don't understand how that's all going to happen."