The Cannabis Industry is Emerging and Parsippany is Missing Out…

And believe me, I understand the concerns. I am a tax-paying, lifelong resident of Parsippany. I attended St. Peter Apostle School, East Lake Elementary School, Brooklawn Middle School, and graduated from Parsippany Hills High School (go Vikings!).

I have pride in my community and I love living in this town.

But have you ever fully considered the facts and data that support permitting cannabis retailers?

Parsippany is allowing cannabis wholesalers and distributors to operate within the town, but not dispensaries. This means it’s OK to distribute cannabis products in large quantities from business to business, but it’s not OK for retailers to sell directly to consumers.

Here is why this does not make sense and why it is harmful to the town of Parsippany:

Many are not aware that a 2% transfer tax is placed on all sales receipts which goes directly to the town the dispensary operates in as tax revenue (this amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually).

There are a number of towns neighboring Parsippany that are permitting dispensaries to operate, including: Boonton, Dover, Morristown, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, and Victory Gardens. Residents of Parsippany will literally drive ten minutes to one of these nearby towns and happily spend their money to purchase cannabis products there. They are already doing this by traveling to areas like Montclair and Bloomfield where dispensaries are already up and running.

This is direct tax revenue from Parsippany residents that the town is forgoing.

And think about yourself as a consumer. If you seek out a store that you have to travel to, what else do you do when you visit? You grab lunch. You get a coffee. You visit other local stores in the area. This is an additional loss to Parsippany’s businesses by not permitting dispensaries.

Safety is also a big concern, but this concern is misguided and is not backed with data. Many people argue that cannabis dispensaries would bring crime to the area. However, studies find that there is no correlation between cannabis consumption and increased violent crime or homicide–in fact it has the opposite effect; a reduction in homicide and assault rates.

This is unlike alcohol consumption which does increase crime rates and the percentage of assaults that occur nationwide. Another study shows that comparatively, alcohol increases aggression whereas cannabis diminishes it.

Look up any alcohol-related statistic and you will only see negative associations, yet it is readily available at liquor stores, restaurants, and bars. Further, minors are allowed to enter any of these establishments except for bars. However, due to strict cannabis regulations, this does not happen in dispensaries.

Residents in towns with dispensaries benefit from the increased safety and security measures that a dispensary owner is required to take to meet state and municipality regulations. Said simply - a cannabis dispensary is the most safe and secure retail establishment you will find. It is operated much like a fortress–controlled access to the site with multiple ID checkpoints (one to enter the building and another to purchase), 24 hours 7 days a week internal and external video surveillance, professional onsite security guards during all hours of operation, and the list of safety measures goes on.

And regardless of your stance, it is important to objectively look at trends locally and federally.

With Millennials and Gen Zers shaping the social, economic and political perspectives of today, the stigma that surrounds cannabis is lessening. Statistics and trends clearly indicate that both generations prefer cannabis to alcohol consumption.

In October, President Biden requested the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review its status as a Schedule I drug (note that cannabis is used medically and has been for years in New Jersey). He has taken it even a step further and pardoned all prior federal offenses of simple possession of cannabis.

In New Jersey, 67.1% voted in favor of cannabis when it was placed on the general election ballot to constitutionally legalize it on November 3, 2020.

Here are three more facts:

A Rutgers study published in February 2022 indicates home sales prices increase by 1.6%, or the equivalent of $6,366 when a dispensary is located nearby.

Do a search on loopnet.com or drive down Route 46 in Parsippany. There are a significant amount of vacant commercial properties that are away from schools, residences and places of worship, have ample parking, are near major highways and would make for great locations to open retail dispensaries.

Cannabis delivery will also be legal statewide and will grow quickly. Just like consumers won’t hesitate to drive from their homes in Parsippany to go to a dispensary in Boonton, they can easily have cannabis delivered to their homes like they’re ordering takeout from DoorDash. Another way to lose tax revenue.

Cannabis is here to stay.

The industry is a lucrative emerging market that will undoubtedly bring economic growth for the towns that allow retailers to operate within them. In New Jersey, it is estimated that sales revenues will reach over $2 billion by 2026.

It is only a matter of time before dispensaries are in every town just like the liquor stores you see anytime you drive down the road.

So why hasn’t a resolution passed to permit cannabis retailers to operate in Parsippany?

This is clearly a missed opportunity.

I encourage you to support state licensed cannabis retailers that want to safely and responsibly operate in Parsippany by signing this petition.