VOORHEESVILLE —  In a 4-to-1 vote on Tuesday, the Voorheesville Board of Trustees said no to both retail sales and on-site consumption of marijuana in the village. 

Kaitlin Wilson, who is at least two decades younger than any of the other trustees, cast the dissenting vote. Wilson said Voorheesville would be missing out on a revenue-generator for the village. 

During a November public hearing on the then-proposed local law, trustees heard very little in the way of agreement for their proposal. In response, the board presented a second law that would have only allowed retail sales. 

After the November public hearing, Mayor Rich Straut said he received a number of emails from residents asking that the board disallow marijuana in the village.

At the second public hearing on Dec. 21, speakers — save for one who apparently mistook cannabis for heroin — fell along similar lines, urging caution because guidelines had yet to be issued by the state. Trustees used the same reasoning in explaining why they voted against allowing retail sales and on-site consumption of marijuana in Voorheesville.

Marijuana had been the most contentious issue in the village since the failed proposal to build 40 apartments at St. Matthew’s Church five years ago, trustees said. 

In contrast to the village, New Scotland — the town in which Voorheesville is located — has decided not to put an opt-out law up for a vote, meaning, come Dec. 31, retail sales and on-site consumption of marijuana will be allowed in town.