Parsippany Pot Ordinance Passes, Allowing For Some Businesses

PARSIPPANY, NJ —It just became legal to apply to put a cannabis business in Parsippany, with many restrictions. The town will now allow limited cannabis wholesale and distribution establishments.

Township Council voted 4-0 in favor of the cannabis ordinance at Tuesday's meeting — Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani was on vacation and not present for the vote. Dispensaries remain prohibited.

Wholesalers can obtain and sell cannabis items for later resale to licensees, while distributors transport items in bulk throughout New Jersey.

Council members have expressed openness to potentially allowing more types of cannabis businesses in the future. But New Jersey towns only had until Aug. 22 to prohibit certain types of weed businesses.

Cities and towns that miss the deadline cannot impose such bans for five more years. Any businesses established within that timeframe get grandfathered in even if there's a future ban. Prohibiting certain licenses before Aug. 22 allows the township to revisit them later, especially once they can better judge the market of legal cannabis.

The ordinance largely follows the regulations the Parsippany Cannabis Working Group recommended at June 1's meeting.

Parsippany will only allow the businesses within certain zones — all at least 1,000 feet from school properties and 500 feet from public facilities and homes. Businesses must operate within the hours of 6 a.m. to 1- p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The businesses must operate in enclosed buildings with no outdoor storage. Cannabis products cannot be visible from any public place. Business licenses come with a $1,000 application fee and then annual $500 renewal fees.

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