Ocean City Council To Introduce Marijuana Ban

OCEAN CITY, NJ - Last year, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian and members of council voiced their opposition to allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in America’s Greatest Family Resort. The city now appears ready to take action on those statements.

Ocean City Council will consider a proposed ordinance on introduction to prohibit businesses that cultivate, manufacture test or sell marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia when it meets Thursday night, 7 p.m. at City Hall.

In the proposal, the city administration cites the possibility that a marijuana dispensary could come to the city should New Jersey pass the "Marijuana Legalization Act" would allow users 21 years old and up to possess up to an ounce of pot.

The city doesn’t want to see a dispensary set up within a quarter mile of a school, church, recreational/sports facility, the boardwalk or any other residential zone, according to the agenda packet posted on the city’s website.

Because there are no areas in the city which would allow for the sale of recreational marijuana given these parameters, the city is looking to ban the practice altogether. Officials point to what they call the “potentially serious implications for the health, safety and welfare of the city and its residents, guests and employees.”

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 officials first broached the subject of marijuana last January, after Gov. Phil Murphy was sworn into office. Murphy, supported the idea of legalizing marijuana use for New Jersey residents 21 years of age and older during his campaign.

But the legislation has seen delay after delay. In November, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee vote was 7-4 in favor, while the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 7-3 to advance the bill.

The move was significant because New Jersey had planned a full Legislature vote by Oct. 29, but continued disagreement over the legislation delayed it. It isn’t exactly clear when a vote would happen, but nj.com reports Murphy might be able to sign the bill into law by the end of February.

Ocean City is also not alone in its opposition to recreational marijuana sales. Here is a list of 47 towns that have moved to ban marijuana sales, manufacturing, farming and other uses within their borders, compiled from articles published in Patch, 94.3 The Point, NJ101.5, The Record and The Star-Ledger as well as ordinances posted on community websites:

• Barnegat
• Berkeley Township
• Bridgeton
• Bridgewater
• Brigantine
• Carlstadt
• Chatham Township
• Clifton
• Cranbury
• East Rutherford
• Elmwood Park
• Emerson
• Fair Haven
• Freehold
• Garfield
• Hasbrouck Heights
• Hawthorne
• Lavallette
• Lodi
• Jamesburg
• Hazlet
• Mahwah
• Manville
• Middletown
• North Haledon
• North Caldwell
• Oakland
• Oceanport
• Point Pleasant Beach
• Ridgewood
• Ringwood
• Seaside Heights
• Sea Girt
• Secaucus
• Shrewsbury
• Spotswood
• Surf City
• Upper Freehold
• Upper Saddle River
• Wall
• Wayne
• Weehawken
• West Caldwell
• West Long Branch
• Westwood
• Woodcliff Lake
• Wyckoff

Ocean City Council will also consider a resolution to adopt the 2019 Special Improvement District budget. There are 21 items on the consent agenda. To view the full agenda, visit ocnj.us.

With reporting by Tom Davis, Patch National Staff.

Image via Shutterstock.