Weed In Cherry Hill? Mixed Opinions From Public On Allowing Businesses

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Some Cherry Hill residents feel ready to welcome cannabis businesses, while others want Township Council to "Just Say No."

The township held a cannabis forum Monday night — offering information on what allowing weed businesses may look like for Cherry Hill while also hearing from the public. About 10 members of the public spoke, sharing a wide range of views — some for, some against and others unsure.

When New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, Cherry Hill opted against allowing weed businesses, including dispensaries, into the township. Officials wanted to wait and observe the impacts of legal recreational cannabis in the state.

Now, the township is revisiting the idea of letting the industry into Cherry Hill. That decision-making process will include several public forums on the topic — Monday's was the first, with future dates to be determined.

Public Opinions

Lonnie Affrime — a Cherry Hill native in the cannabis industry — advocated for the township to allow such businesses so it could better regulate weed consumption. But he warned that adding too many restrictions would only allow larger, non-local businesses to set up shop. (Affrime is the CEO of Voltaire, which plans to open a dispensary this September in Mount Holly.)

"A lot of them do not care. They’re here for the money," Affrime said. "I think a lot of the small operators really care about the community. They want to do right by you."

One resident's concern involved New Jersey's cannabis tax rate — the nation's lowest, according to a September report from the Urban Institute & Brookings Institution.

New Jersey has kept those taxes lower than others to incentivize businesses to open in the state. But that doesn't necessarily bode well for municipalities hoping to support locals over larger corporations.

"Our state of New Jersey has the lowest taxes in the country, which is why outside businesses want to come in here," the resident said. "Personally, if you’re going to do it (legalize the businesses), I would like to keep it more local. That’s not what’s going to happen."

Adults 21 and older in New Jersey can legally consume recreational weed, even in locales that prohibit cannabis businesses. And outside businesses can still deliver cannabis to customers in those cities and towns.

Those who spoke against allowing the industry into Cherry Hill said the township doesn't need the industry. Nicole Nance, Cherry Hill's Republican candidate for mayor, said the potential impacts on issues such as crime and health would outweigh any economic benefit.

"I don’t think we’re considering the potential blight it will bring to our environment in our suburban township," Nance said. "I don’t think we’re considering the health factors for our children and our teenagers and even our older residents, some of the seniors. I don’t think we’re considering the dollar amount."

An often-cited 2019 study in public debate found increased crime rates in Denver neighborhoods with at least one recreational or medical dispensary. Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver analyzed police data from 2012-15 — Colorado legalized recreational cannabis in 2014.

Other studies showed different results. A 2020 research project — funded by the U.S. Department of Justice — found that cannabis legalization in Washington had no consistent positive or negative outcomes for public safety.

Where Might Cannabis Businesses Go?

New Jersey has significant limits on where cannabis businesses can open, and municipal governments can enact further restrictions. If Cherry Hill legalized the industry in some capacity, prospective businesses would need approval from zoning officials and a governing body responsible for authorizing local licenses.

Cherry Hill remains far from potentially reaching that juncture. But the township's presentation included a list of locations in the municipality that permit zoning for similar businesses.

The township has several zones permitting retail. But not all of those business zones would be a good fit for a dispensary, according to Cosmas Diamantis, Cherry Hill's community-development director.

The state prohibits cannabis retailers from premises that operate a grocery store, deli, indoor food market, other food retail or alcohol-retail establishments — restrictions that would effectively prevent even some of the business-heavy areas in Cherry Hill from opening a dispensary.

Some of the township's industrial zones — mostly along the Interstate 295/95 corridor — may represent areas that could hold cannabis businesses such as manufacturers or delivery establishments, Diamantis said. He found it unlikely that the township could allow cannabis cultivation in its zoning, since it requires large, indoor agricultural facilities.

The township's presentation is available here. Officials plan to continue engaging the public. Any meeting in which the township will consider changing its cannabis regulations will require advanced notice.