4 Marijuana Businesses Allowed Under Belleville’s New Law

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The Belleville Township Council gave a green light to a local ordinance on Tuesday that will pave the way for four marijuana businesses to set up shop in town – with “tight restrictions,” according to Mayor Michael Melham.

Acting just days ahead of a state-imposed deadline, the Belleville council passed the ordinance during its meeting on Aug. 17 (watch the video below).

The ordinance caps the number of retail cannabis facilities at four. It also limits retail cannabis facilities to only one commercial zone, the business district (BG Zone), while permitting other cannabis-related uses in the Valley, VB1 and VB2 Districts.

Belleville expects to gain tax revenue from any cannabis retail facilities that come to town, although income estimates currently “remain unclear,” officials said.

New Jersey voters approved recreational marijuana in November 2020, with about 63% of Belleville’s voters casting “yes” votes on the ballot question.

When state lawmakers crafted the legalization bill, they left room for municipalities to ban or limit the number of cannabis businesses operating in their communities. Read More: 5 Things You Need To Know About Marijuana Legalization In NJ

Local governments have until Aug. 21 to pass a law regulating cannabis businesses. They will be able to repeal or alter their ordinances afterwards. If they don't pass an ordinance in that time, not only will marijuana businesses be allowed to operate, but local officials won't have another chance to issue a ban for a period of five years. Read More: Marijuana Is Legal In NJ. But Can Towns Still Ban It?

Mayor Melham said the town ordinance was about “establishing tight restrictions of where cannabis could be sold and where it could be grown in Belleville.”

“The governing body did not vote to legalize marijuana in Belleville, but we did enact tougher restrictions that control the industry within our borders,” he said.

Belleville Township Attorney Steven Martino noted that municipalities can’t prevent a resident from ordering cannabis through a home delivery service. Towns also can’t stop someone from driving to a retailer in a neighboring town, purchasing marijuana and driving back home with it.

Some Essex County towns, including Livingston and Nutley, have chosen to ban cannabis businesses – at least for now.

• Livingston Council Votes: No Marijuana Businesses, For Now
• Nutley Bans Marijuana Businesses Within Town Limits

Other municipalities, including Newark, Montclair and Bloomfield, have gone in the opposite direction.

• Newark Is Paving The Way For Cannabusinesses
• Montclair Council Gives Green Light To Marijuana Businesses
• Bloomfield Council Votes To Allow Cannabis Businesses

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