Hoboken’s Relationship With Legal Marijuana Still Evolving

HOBOKEN, NJ — Legal weed in Hoboken, medical marijuana and a possible cannabis improvement district will be among the topics at a public forum on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Hoboken Councilman Mike DeFusco is spearheading the “community discussion on medicinal marijuana,” which will include updates on the city’s tabled recreational marijuana ordinance and the prospect of having dispensaries in the Mile Square City.

The Feb. 7 panel will feature former Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace of Colorado, as well as other medical and industry experts. It takes place at 7 p.m. at the Antique Loft, 33 River Street. (Learn more about this local event here)

DeFusco gave an update on the city’s in-flux relationship with legalized marijuana in a Tuesday email.

“With recreational cannabis law still in flux in Trenton, the City Council tabled an ordinance to permit recreational marijuana in Hoboken until the law, and its impacts on local municipalities, has been made clear. Instead, the City Council re-centered the conversation on medicinal marijuana, and voted in favor of a new law to permit medicinal dispensaries, once licensed by the state. There are many strong arguments to legalize, from ending the often-unfair impact drug arrests have on African American and Hispanic residents to the economic development and tax revenue possibilities. But no matter what happens at the state level, we need to make sure we have appropriate safeguards in place here in Hoboken to make sure that any potential marijuana businesses operate safely and in a way that enhances our city, instead of threatening our neighborhoods.

“Though I am a proponent of medical dispensaries, I voted ‘no’ on the first law as it was a rushed attempt to simply say we did it without considering unintended consequences. The law as initially passed would almost entirely impact downtown Hoboken without any guarantee that the neighborhood impact would benefit from the added revenues. Further, full control over licensing would be given to the mayor, without any City Council input.

“As chair of the Zoning Committee, I worked with my council colleagues and the administration to craft a better medicinal-cannabis ordinance. The updated law gives more oversight to the council on licensing applications, as well as creating a ‘cannabis improvement district’ which aims to provide more resources, like street improvements and additional enforcement, to the neighbors directly impacted by a dispensary. I will be introducing these corresponding amendments at tomorrow’s City Council meeting, with a final reading of the revised law occurring on Feb. 20.”

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