Ban On Cannabis Businesses May End In Brick

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Council is set to consider an ordinance on Tuesday that would allow the issuance of a retail cannabis license in the township.

The proposed ordinance would amend the town's Land Use ordinance to allow cannabis businesses in the township and to allow it to issue one Class 5 retail cannabis license, according to the agenda for Tuesday's meeting.

The proposal comes five years after the Township Council banned any cannabis businesses in the township, as towns across New Jersey reacted to the implementation of state regulations on cannabis.

In 2021, towns had 180 days to enact bans on cannabis businesses after they were legalized statewide. Brick's all-Democrat council voted unanimously at the time to ban the sale.

The 2021 ban followed one the township enacted in 2019 in the midst of heated debates in the township around a medical marijuana dispensary that was proposed on Adamston Road. An application to the zoning board for the proposed dispensary — which was not a permitted use — eventually was withdrawn after the council put the ban in place.

When the council voted to ban cannabis businesses in 2019, part of the discussion involved the potential tax impact of such a business. At that time, cannabis sales were expected to bring in less than $66,000 in tax revenue to Brick.

It appears the tax revenues have been much higher than anticipated. The state Cannabis Regulatory Commission reported more than $67.5 million in sales tax revenue from recreational cannabis in 2025.

There are 176 towns in New Jersey that permit cannabis businesses, and 144 towns that have at least one cannabis business operating,according to The Stoner Review, which tracks cannabis data in New Jersey.

In South Toms River, one of three towns in Ocean County that currently allow recreational cannabis sales to adults, the tax impact has been significant. Sales at the two dispensaries there, The Social Leaf and Altitude, brought in nearly $562,ooo in 2025, according to the borough's 2026 municipal budget.

In Lakehurst, the borough received more than $270,000 in sales tax revenue from cannabis sales in 2025 from its two dispensaries, High Profile and Earth & Ivy, according to the 2026 budget, while Waretown, which has BLOC dispensary as its only cannabis business, received more than $204,000, according to its 2026 budget.

The Brick Township Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 401 Chambers Bridge Road.