Jersey City, Eatontown, and Woodbridge are moving forward with adult-use ordinances that allow different forms of retail NJ cannabis.
Jersey City in Hudson County is considering an ordinance that would put social equity at its forefront. Eatontown in Monmouth County would allow three retail NJ cannabis locations. Woodbridge in Middlesex County would only allow its medical dispensary, Garden State Dispensary, to sell adult-use cannabis within its borders.
Jersey City Moves Cannabis
The Jersey City Planning Board reviewed plans to allow several adult-use recreational cannabis dispensaries and facilities in the city for the first time at last night’s meeting. They opted to vote at their next session on June 22nd.
Supervising Planner Matt Ward explained there will be public comment and a vote on the plan at the next meeting.
As long as the ordinance passes, it will have a first reading at the July 14th city council meeting. Then the second reading will be heard at a special meeting Ward explained. Thus the vote can be held before the statewide deadline to take action on August 21st.
“We want to devote as much time as possible to this. This is unprecedented here,” said Board Chair Christopher Langston.
Those who wish to have their voice heard are encouraged to send their comments by June 17th.
Planning Board Attorney Santo Alampi noted that towns must enact an ordinance by August 21st to manage cannabis policy in their towns for the next five years.
The municipalities that opt-in to cannabis can impose a two percent tax. Officials have previously suggested should go towards the public schools.
Legalization Details
“Jersey City is opting out of cannabis consumption areas, a smoking lounge. That would have to be based at a dispensary,” Ward said, though noted that could change in the future.
The five classes of licenses that will potentially be allowed in Jersey City will be cultivation – which must occur indoors or in a greenhouse – manufacturing, distribution, dispensary, and retail.
Additionally, Ward stated they sought to prioritize entrepreneurship and equity, encourage competition. They also want to balance demand and oversaturation while writing the plan.
He also noted the microbusiness license help promotes the social justice goals they sought to advance. It will be easier for entrepreneurs with fewer resources to obtain.
For a microbusiness, the owners need to have lived in New Jersey for at least two years, 51 percent of staff need to live in Jersey City. They can employ a maximum of 10 people in a space that is up to 2,500 square feet.
Furthermore, their applications will need to include a description of the applicant’s record of “social responsibility, philanthropy, and ties to the proposed host community.” That’s according to the presentation before the board.
They also need to create a workforce development and job creation plan, education, training and resources that will be available for employees. And any relevant certifications, and an optional diversity plan.
Location and Distance Issues
Beyond that, cannabis retailer licenses shall be permitted in several of the different commercial districts Jersey City has.
Dispensaries will be allowed around PATH stations. But with the limit of two per block and one must be a microbusiness. In other areas, there will be more distance. But there still could be a dispensary every two or three blocks in certain areas of the city according to Ward.
“Can the different classes of establishments be combined into one establishment?” Langston asked.
Ward said that might be difficult. They do not promote retail space in industrial districts which means the zoning regulations would need to be updated.
“I’m thinking about cannabis brewery type of situation,” Langston said. He described it as a place where manufacturing and selling could be done on the same premises, like a microbrewery.
Cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and delivery businesses would be in all industrial zones, light industrial zones, as well as the Highway Commercial Zone along Tonnelle Avenue.
Ward also noted that the dispensaries check IDs to ensure everyone is at least 21 years old.
In neighboring Hoboken, the municipal government is moving forward with retail cannabis businesses, while nearby Union City is pumping the brakes for now.
Eatontown OKs 3 Retail NJ Cannabis Locations
Eatontown Councilman Joseph Olsavsky said the committee that was formed to address cannabis is advising that one dispensary be allowed on Route 35 South and one on Route 36 East. In addition, to the two new dispensaries, the Eatontown GSD could also sell adult-use cannabis.
Manufacturing, distribution and cultivation would be allowed in the industrial area of town. The council was interested in imposing the local two percent tax on sales.
Councilwoman Danielle Jones said they need to “be as proactive as possible” so as to not miss the August 21st deadline.
Eatontown was the first town in Monmouth County to allow a medicinal cannabis dispensary.
Woodbridge Township Allows One Dispensary and Several Other Licenses
Woodbridge laid out a plan for retail NJ cannabis that only allows the existing dispensary of Garden State Dispensary (GSD) which is now owned by Ayr Wellness, on Rt. 1 North to sell cannabis to the public. No other retail NJ cannabis location will be allowed. Several towns have been doing the same. Thus, GSD’s official cannabis selling monopoly in town will be maintained. They opened in 2013.
Cultivation, Manufacturing, wholesaling, distribution, and delivery will be allowed in the township’s light and heavy industrial zones.
The Woodbridge ordinance, like other towns’, added several additional barriers to where cannabis businesses could be placed so an industrial district would be the only way to satisfy that.
It would be hard for a town like us to say no, but we don’t want to have them all over town like vape shops,” Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said. “This is a good strategy. We protect an existing business without overburdening the rest of the town.”
“It took some getting used to the first couple of months, but since then I haven’t heard a peep from anyone against what they are doing,” McCormac said regarding GSD. “They have been there for years. They have been a great neighbor and they employ a lot of people. We have not had any issues with them whatsoever.”
McCormac said he has yet to hear from any potential applicants.
Under the ordinance, which is up for a public hearing June 22,
Woodbridge allows want to impose a $200 fine on anyone caught consuming cannabis in public but excludes smoking, vaping, or aerosolizing.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) resides in Woodbridge announces high school football games.
