In 1616, Galileo, a man called the father of modern science, was arrested.

His crime? He supported the theory that the earth revolved around the sun. The theory, supported by Galileo’s work in astronomy, was termed, among other things, “vehemently suspect of heresy.”

Galileo was found guilty, forced to recant his beliefs and spend the rest of his life under house arrest.

Eventually, the science behind Galileo’s conclusion would be accepted by the world.

But resistance to science has continued to this day. Witness the Town of North Hempstead.

The town recently introduced two laws that would restrict the location of medical marijuana dispensaries after the operator of a facility in Lake Success announced its intention to relocate to a heavily trafficked retail area on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset.

The announcement was met by heated opposition by residents, civic association officials and town officials who said the facility might lure innocent teenagers with a dangerous substance and increase traffic.

Never mind that medical marijuana dispensaries in New York are heavily regulated and the marijuana is restricted to people with “severe debilitating or life-threatening conditions.”

Not satisfied with a proposal to shunt the sickest among us to out-of-the way locations, the Town of North Hempstead officials are now drafting a law that would ban recreational marijuana retail stores.

The legislation comes in response to the expected legalization of recreational marijuana use by the state of New York.

“We’re about to legalize something that is a drug, so I’m against it,” Town Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio said. “I think that’s not the kind of retail that people want to see in the Town of North Hempstead. If the constituents were really in favor of it that would be one thing, but I’m only hearing people that agree with banning the sale.”

Di Giorgio said Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Councilman Angelo Ferrara have said they support the law, but does not know the position of the other four council members.

Oh, where to start?

How about the questions of a drug? Aspirin is a drug. Are you against aspirin, council member?

And do you really only act on the basis of those from whom you hear – regardless of the facts? Is that the leadership we expect from our town officials?

And do you really want to ban stores that sell marijuana at a time of dramatic changes in retail that have left storefronts empty across the North Shore?

Just imagine the impact of a ban on alcohol, a substance far more dangerous than marijuana. No liquor stores, no bars and restaurants without their top profit center.

Most importantly, what about the facts beginning with why New York is expected to join 10 other states, the District of Columbia and all of Canada in legalizing recreational marijuana?

The state of New York recently released a report to evaluate the health, public safety and economic impact of legalizing marijuana by a wide range of experts including, yes, scientists.

The report did much to dispel the ocean of misinformation popularized in the 1930s by “Reefer Madness” and repeated to this day.

Want proof?

The report noted that a Marist Poll showed that 52 percent of Americans 18 years or older have tried marijuana at some point in their lives, and 44 percent of these individuals currently use it.

Which is to say that there is a good chance that the average teenager is already using or has used unregulated marijuana purchased illegally and subject to tampering.

But where are the dire consequences?

Marijuana will actually be more difficult for youth to obtain in a regulated marijuana environment, according to the state report. At the moment, the experts said, it is easier for teens to get marijuana than alcohol because alcohol is regulated and marijuana is not.

Among the report’s other findings are that:

• Regulating marijuana reduces risks and improves quality control and consumer protection.
• Marijuana may reduce opioid deaths and opioid prescribing.
• Legalization of marijuana has no or minimal impact on use by youth.

Bothered by high taxes in New York?

The report also said marijuana regulation could generate long-term savings including police time, court costs, prison costs and administration fees.

And regulated marijuana will generate tax revenue of between $248 million a year and $677 million a year as well as jobs.

The report does include potential problems with legalization but concludes: “The positive effects of a regulated marijuana market in NYS outweigh the potential negative impacts. Areas that may be a cause for concern can be mitigated with regulation and proper use of public education that is tailored to address key populations.”

This state report was released several months ago and is available on the state’s website.

But we don’t recall having heard one word from any civic leader or town official about the report or its contents.

Perhaps, they have not bothered to read what has been said by experts from the state Department of Health, the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuses, the state police, the Office of Children and Family Services, the Department of Taxation and Finance, and the Department of Transportation.

If not, why not?

According to the experts, the ignorance being shown by the Town of North Hempstead could very well result in increased marijuana use among teenagers, unfilled storefronts, lost jobs, lost tax revenue and lost lives to opioid addiction.

That’s a crime worse than heresy.