Mayor, Council Oppose Legal Marijuana In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian is reportedly bringing something before council soon concerning banning the sale of marijuana in Ocean City, should the practice become legal statewide.

Calling the possibility that marijuana could become legal in the State of New Jersey “very dangerous,” Gillian told Ocean City Council during Thursday night’s meeting that he has directed Ocean City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson to look at ways the city could keep marijuana out of America’s Favorite Family Resort, ocnjdaily.com reports.

McCrosson said all proposals to legalize marijuana state municipalities may “opt out” of pot sales, but they wouldn’t be able to share in any tax money the state brings in off the sale of marijuana, according to the report. The mayor and council agreed they didn’t want to share in those taxes. Gillian did say the final decision would fall on the resort’s taxpayers.

During his campaign, Gov. Phil Murphy, supported the idea of legalizing marijuana use for New Jersey residents 21 years of age and older. He estimates the state can raise $300 million by making it legal, and use that money to fund education programs and public worker pensions, according to nj.com.

A bill has already been introduced by Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, and State Sen. President Steve Sweeney said he would like to see it signed within the first 100 days of the Murphy Administration. Here’s what it would do:

• The possession and personal use of small amounts — one ounce or less — of marijuana would be legal for people age 21 and over.
• The manufacture, possession or purchase of marijuana accessories, or the sale of marijuana accessories to a person who is 21 years of age or older, would also be legal.
• Purchasing of marijuana from a marijuana cultivation facility or a "retail marijuana store" that licensed to sell the product would be legal.
• Packaging, processing, transporting, manufacturing, displaying, or possessing marijuana or marijuana products would be legal.
• Leasing or allowing the use of property owned, occupied or controlled by any person, corporation or other entity for marijuana use, possession and manufacturing would be legal.

Ocean City’s opposition to the proposal falls in line with its history as an alcohol-free island. Four Methodist ministers founded Ocean City in 1879, and one of the religious principles they founded the resort on was that no alcohol should be allowed on the island. Nearly 140 years later, Ocean City remains a highly religious resort. This was evident in 2012, when voters defeated a proposal to allow patrons to bring their own alcohol to restaurants by a 2-1 margin.

Ocean City isn’t alone in its opposition. Former Gov. Chris Christie opposed marijuana legalization, as did Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, because of fears that it could be a gateway for harder drugs. Last week, the Monmouth County Freeholders passed a resolution saying they oppose recreational marijuana sales.

In late 2017, Point Pleasant Beach passed an ordinance banning all marijuana businesses in the borough. Berkeley Township became the second town to formally take on the issue when it introduced an ordinance to ban the sale of recreational marijuana in the township. Other shore towns have also voiced their opposition, while others take a wait-and-see approach.

Eight states and the District of Columbia have already legalized marijuana for recreational use.

Patch file photo