Middletown Considered Banning Marijuana Sales In 2018. And Now?

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Back in 2018, when the New Jersey Legislature couldn't make up its mind whether or not to legalize marijuana, Middletown's Township Committee introduced this ordinance that would have banned recreational pot from being sold within town limits. It would have prevented marijuana retail shops from opening in Middletown.

That legislation, first proposed by Committeeman Tony Fiore, was never voted on, because a vote in Trenton never happened. The matter was tabled.

But now today, with the vast majority of New Jersey voters (1.6 million for; 798,000 against) approving a ballot question to legalize recreational cannabis, expect the topic to be resurrected.

"It's going to be a discussion that has to be had," said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry on Wednesday. "Once the election is certified and all votes are in, it will be a conversation among the Twp. Committee. I know (Middletown Police) Chief Weber has a lot of questions, too."

"We will also wait to see the legislation on this because that will dictate how legal marijuana will work in individual towns in New Jersey," he added. "Such as what type of tax revenue they will get."

Like what you're reading? Sign up to get daily Patch emails and stay in the know on local news: https://patch.com/subscribe

In 2018, Old Bridge voted to ban recreational marijuana sales within Township limits. Berkeley and Point Pleasant Beach have similar bans in place. Toms River proposed a ban but, like Middletown, never voted on it.

Asbury Park and Jersey City are the two most prominent towns in New Jersey that said they would welcome recreational pot dispensaries. There is currently a medical marijuana retail shop that just opened last month at the old Fort Monmouth property in Eatontown.

In fact, Perry said he voted against legalizing it specifically because so much is unknown about how legal marijuana will operate in New Jersey.

"I fully support medical marijuana, but there are still so many unknowns. Will they do background checks on the people applying for a license to grow it? What types of costs are towns going to incur?" said Perry, a Republican. "And it's still illegal on a federal level, so in Colorado you have police departments being sued because of illegal search and seizures. I think it was unfair to have the public vote on it with so many unanswered questions."

The term of the ballot question state:

• Adults 21 and older can legally purchase marijuana in New Jersey
• Legalize the cultivation, processing and sale of cannabis in a retail setting
• Tax recreational cannabis products at the state sales tax rate of 6.625 percent (local municipalities can add an additional tax up to 2 percent)

When he first introduced the ordinance, Fiore said he was concerned Middletown would have no say over where marijuana retail stores or grow operations could set up shop.

"We wanted to protect ourselves in the event the Legislature and governor stuck a deal to legalize it," said Perry. "But the Township Committee never put it up for a vote."

What do Middletown residents think?

Perry said he expects Middletown residents "will be on both side of the issue."

"There will be people who support it, but there will also be people who've gone to California, Colorado and Nevada and smelled it walking down the street and don't want that here," he said. "And I bet you will find people who are in favor of it being legalized, but don't want it sold within Middletown boundaries."

Related: NJ Voters Just Legalized Marijuana, Now What? 3 Things To Know (Nov. 4)

Middletown Seeks To Ban Marijuana Sales Within Town Limits (Feb. 2013)