Albany County Executive Dan Mccoy Vetoes Tobacco Ban

AlbanyAlbany County Executive Dan McCoy on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have banned the sale of tobacco products in retail stores that contain licensed pharmacies.McCoy released a statement that Local Law D lacks an enforcing agency, a procedure to collect fines and licensing law that would allow the county to regulate cigarette sales."It is my belief that even if these legal flaws were addressed, its effects would be to redirect consumers to stores without pharmacies," McCoy said.The executive instead directed the county attorney to draw up legislation that would ban the display of tobacco products in pharmacies and retail stores with pharmacies.The local law was narrowly passed by county lawmakers in August.Latham Democrat Tim Nichols, its sponsor, is looking into overriding McCoy's veto, which would require a supermajority vote with 24 out of the 39 legislators in favor."No one spoke of any legal problems at any point of this debate," Nichols said.