The Maplewood cannabis ordinance allowing four dispensaries was passed unanimously by the Township Committee as New Jersey towns make progress on enacting legalization implementation laws.
“Thank you, everyone who worked on that ordinance,” said Mayor Frank McGhee.
They will allow four dispensaries. The Essex County town will also allow five delivery licenses, one cultivator, one manufacturer, one wholesaler, and one distributor. There will be no cannabis lounges.
“We’re proud of our adult-use ordinance. It’s sensible. But also progressive with heavy emphasis on social equity and comparatively competitive with surrounding towns opting in,” said Township Committeeman Dean Dafis.
Setting up the Local Market
Maplewood was among the towns that enacted a temporary ban to take their time crafting an ordinance.
“We should be formalizing our application and review process by mid-January and our Community Benefit Agreement components. We will announce the opening of the application portal with all necessary details thereafter. Which should allow us to begin reviewing received applications on March 1. This aligns with the state’s application deadlines,” he added.
Township attorney Roger Desiderio noted the ordinance was sent to the town Planning Board which reviewed the law on December 14th and approved it.
“It’s great to see everything moving forward,” said Matthew Gross, a property owner on Springfield Ave who was seeking a dispensary license.
He said the Planning Board and Zoning Board have both approved his application for a dispensary. Gross was concerned there was no recognition of this. He wanted to know if he would be required to go through another review.
Gross pointed out the point system they enacted favors the TerrAscend medical cannabis dispensary, which would likely receive one of the four allowed adult-use cannabis dispensary slots. Gross added he spent a lot of time getting approvals.
Maplewood Cannabis Licensing Process
The annual registration fees for a Maplewood cannabis license are reasonable at $2,500 apiece for most. It’s $750 for a delivery license. Microbusinesses only have to pay a $1,000 fee.
Cannabis company locations are restricted. Businesses have to be 500 feet from a K-12 school and 250 feet from a house of worship. This limits the available properties. No cannabis products can be visible from the windows.
Notably, retailers are allowed in neighborhoods zoned for Neighborhood Business, Parkside, Pedestrian Business, Retail Business, Redevelopment Area 3, Baker Street Redevelopment Area, and the Post Office Redevelopment Area.
Local Dispensary Application Process
In the likely event that the Maplewood cannabis approval process is competitive, they set up a point system for rewards.
Points are earned if:
1. Applicant is a Social Equity Business (10) points)
2. Applicant is a Diversely Owned Business (10) points)
3. Applicant is a Microbusiness (10) points)
4. Applicant is an Alternative Treatment Center in Maplewood (10 points)
Applicants need proof they have lawful possession of their property in a deed, lease, a contract contingent upon successful licensing, or a binding letter of intent by the owner indicating intent to lease the premises contingent upon successful licensing.
The Township Committee will judge applicants on their experience operating in highly regulated industries such as cannabis, healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and pharmacies, especially in New Jersey.
Town Cannabis License Application Details
Potential Maplewood cannabis companies need to describe how they will store cannabis products and their security plans, including video surveillance and guards, for five points.
Companies with experience providing health insurance and or paid family leave of at least $15 an hour are favored. Or they need to sign an agreement that would allow a labor union in the past for five points.
Five points are given to those who commit to making half of their employees locals from Maplewood. Points are also awarded to owners who have lived there for five or more years. They also must provide community benefits and show a commitment to diversity.
For a cannabis company to open, the police need to approve its security plan. They must maintain close contact with the police and fire department.
Proof of financial capability to open a business has to be established. Potential Maplewood cannabis companies also need an environmental impact and sustainability plan.
The Maplewood cannabis law included the two percent tax on retail cannabis sales and a one percent tax on cannabis that wholesale towns are allowed to impose.
More Towns OK Cannabis Laws
Morristown is among the towns that initially banned cannabis licenses and has now passed an ordinance allowing them. They will permit two adult-use cannabis dispensaries. Their cannabis market ordinance sets up a two percent tax on product sales and a one percent wholesale tax. Additionally, a one percent transfer tax would occur for each sale by a cannabis wholesaler.
While the cannabis referendum passed the town by 77 percent last year, Council President Stefan Armington said they received many letters and criticism from cannabis legalization opponents.
Monmouth Country Progress
Tinton Falls was a similar town. It passed a temporary ban ordinance and recently allowed cannabis companies to operate within its borders.
Retail, cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling, and distribution licenses are permitted. Cannabis delivery companies will not be allowed while they can make deliveries there.
Only two of each of the four license categories will be permitted. Dispensaries that check licenses to ensure everyone is 21 and older have to be 1,000 feet from a school like street cannabis.
They will only be permitted to operate in the manufacturing zone and the Industrial Office Park zone. Cannabis license applicants will have to pay the town $10,000 for the initial application. It could serve as a barrier to entry and $2,500 a year afterward.
Long Branch in Monmouth County is imposing a regulatory structure. They failed to do so by the August 21st deadline. The ordinance is heavily restrictive.
While treated seriously by towns that wanted to regulate cannabis within their limits and collect the tax, no one is enforcing the deadline.
Princeton has also made progress on the process set up last spring. Their cannabis task force has completed its report. The town is expected to pass an ordinance allowing three dispensaries in the new year.
