Boroughs lean in to cannabis sales

While Hopewell Township has signaled its unwillingness to allow cannabis sales in the township, Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough are more enthusiastic.

In an email to MercerMe last month, Mayor Paul Anzano spoke favorably of the benefits of selling cannabis, the use of which has been decriminalized since March. The state is currently working on laws to regulate the cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis. The municipalities will collect sales proceeds from all types of sales, from wholesale to retail.

Anzano stated, “The Council and I are strongly in favor of allowing marijuana trafficking in the district. The district’s voters approved the referendum with around 75%. We are currently revising our master plan to identify suitable areas for some form of marijuana business. “

Like Hopewell Township (click here for the story), Hopewell Borough will initially not allow a marijuana business as they plan “what types of marijuana businesses we think are best for the borough’s residents, how many of the different marijuana types -Businesses / processes? and where they are allowed, ”says Anzano.

However, Anzano noted that the council recognizes the need to “act as quickly as possible so that the district is in a competitive position relative to other municipalities”.

According to the NJ League of Municipalities, state law requires local authorities to take a decision on cannabis regulation within 180 days (through August 21, 2021) of the law that decriminalized cannabis. If the parish completely signs out, as Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough do, they can sign up again at any time. If the municipality doesn’t make a decision, any type of cannabis-related business – from cultivation to manufacture to retail – must be approved and no change made for five years.

Cities also have the option of enacting laws from the start, accepting certain types of sales and banning others. Pennington Borough chose this route.

At its June 7 meeting, Pennington Borough not only welcomed a new mayor, but also introduced an ordinance that allows retail sale of cannabis in some parts of the city. The new mayor, Jim Davy, told MercerMe that initial talks had been about multiple locations across the district, but had agreed on three retail licenses in the Highway District, along Route 31, by the end of the June 7 meeting .

The regulation introduced on June 7th is here. It requires one of the three licenses to go to a medical pharmacy; the other two can be retail stores. The regulation does not allow cannabis growers, manufacturers or distributors. It will now go to the Planning Committee and then to the public hearing before it can be considered for adoption by the Council.

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