Hazlet has a clear choice on November 8th

The Democratic candidates for Hazlet Town Committee have advocated for “Change” and articulated their strategy for raising tax revenue. They are endorsing the opening of recreational Cannabis stores as well as Cultivation facilities in our community. Whether using Cannabis is good or bad is a personal decision based upon NJ laws. The question is whether their projections are sound.

The Democratic candidates have put forth the economic argument that a single solitary store of 1,000 square feet would generate approximately “$84,000 in tax revenue per quarter” based upon the 2% tax the town could levy (state regulations). The math would suggest that this store would be selling $4,200,000 of Cannabis every 90 days ($16,800,000 annually) or $46,667 of Cannabis a day into our community. At a recreational price of $70 per eighth ounce, this infers that our citizens would be consuming 60,000 purchases of Cannabis in that 90-day period from this store. In a year, over a ton of Cannabis in one eighth ounce size packages. Seems like an ambitious sales plan and if true, the nature of the town should be expected to “Change” given this level of indulgence.

I anticipate the Democrats would suggest we will get significant sales from non-Hazlet citizens. If every town is proposing to sell Cannabis, why would someone drive to Hazlet to buy their Cannabis? Why not buy Cannabis locally and avoid driving while under the influence of it from indulging in the “lounges” they advocate opening? If municipalities are not opening these stores and cultivation facilities, are they proposing Hazlet become a statewide beacon of Cannabis sales? NIMBY…not by my house please.

The state Cannabis referendum they love to reference specifically did not ask the question whether people would want a Cannabis store near their home. Do you think Governor Murphy will have a Cannabis store near his mansion on the Navesink? Their “Change” is Hazlet needs to get with the program from Trenton. Accepting more advice from Trenton is “Change”…would could possibly go wrong following that sage wisdom ?

Let’s not forget, my friends in the Democrat party would add the town could charge a “user fee” on top of the NJ regulated price for the Cannabis. As a business owner myself, let’s take some lessons from the states that have allowed recreational Cannabis sales.

We know existing Cannabis sales are conducted through elaborate and established criminal networks. A recent article in NJ Monitor cited black market Cannabis sale prices will be fractional to the stated NJ regulated price. If I was a Cannabis exhorter (and I am not), the best place to find motivated buyers for this product would be to stand in front of the store and offer cash discounts from an illegal peddler directly. Of course, the store owner can call the police and report an illegal sale of Cannabis in front of his Cannabis store. Irony and hypocrisy notwithstanding.

Illegal Cannabis marketers will focus on these stores for prospects as they have done in other states. People who peddle drugs professionally are not always outstanding citizens. If our police were not busy enough, this activity will certainly sharpen their detain and arrest skills. Whether we get this amazing tax revenue or not, we will get the increased criminal activity and costs affiliated with it.

While most people do not know that drug sales of this type must be made in cash as the Federal government and most banks have a harsh view of any drug related money. Visa, Mastercard and PayPal typically do not fund drug transactions.

The Democrats are right about creating jobs from this one store of 1,000 square feet. They will need armed guards to protect all this cash they are projecting to be generating every day. Remember all those illegal peddlers standing in front of the store. No doubt they have acquaintances who may specialize in other felonies including robbery.

As a sitting member of the Hazlet Town Committee, I am not running for office next week. I have voted against establishing Cannabis stores in our town. I am waiting for a sound, compelling argument to move forward or stay our course with no stores. This slate of Democratic candidates have not convinced me…either their numbers are correct, and our town will succumb to the impact of many, many folks being under the influence of Cannabis. Alternatively, their numbers are simply invented for the sole purpose of stimulating voters with promise of easy tax revenue.

The current Hazlet Town Committee has executed upon “Change” for the last four years. We have delivered CPR pumps into our Police cars saving dozens of Hazlet lives; rebuilt 30% of our roads and financed them with a near 1% interest rate; and returned Town Hall operations to a 5-day operation from the last Democratic “Change” platform when it shuttered operations on Fridays which lessened service to our citizens. Not all “Change” is good. There are clear choices in this year’s elections. Please exercise your right to VOTE!!