Decision On Marijuana Businesses Nears In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The decision about whether to allow recreational marijuana businesses in Montclair is coming down to the wire.

Montclair is already home to one of the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries, Ascend, formerly known as Greenleaf. But if a package of proposed town ordinances passes, it would pave the way for several recreational cannabis businesses, including two retail shops.

Read the ordinances below:

• ORDINANCE O-21-17 - AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF CANNABIS BUSINESSES IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR
• ORDINANCE O-21-18 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE CHAPTER 347 TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF THE LOCATION OF CANNABIS BUSINESSES
• ORDINANCE O-21-19 - AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR MUNICIPAL SALES AND USE TAXES ON CERTAIN CANNABIS-RELATED TRANSACTIONS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR

Some residents, including members of the planning board, have raised questions over the equity of where the council has proposed allowing them to set up – mainly in the southern portion of town, Montclair Local reported.

A final reading is scheduled for Aug. 10, TAP Into Montclair reported.

New Jersey voters approved recreational marijuana in November 2020. When state lawmakers crafted the legalization bill, they left room for municipalities to ban or limit the number of cannabis businesses operating in their communities. Read More: 5 Things You Need To Know About Marijuana Legalization In NJ

Town governments have until Aug. 21 to pass a law banning cannabis businesses. They will be able to repeal or alter their ordinances afterwards. If they don't pass an ordinance in that time, not only will marijuana businesses be allowed to operate, but local officials won't have another chance to issue a ban for a period of five years. Read More: Marijuana Is Legal In NJ. But Can Towns Still Ban It?

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