Oakland To Reconsider Marijuana Businesses, But No Pot Shops

OAKLAND, NJ — Cannabis businesses could soon be allowed in one of the FLOW towns, as three ordinances are under consideration in Oakland.

No businesses have applied in Oakland yet, according to NorthJersey.com, but the three ordinances look to establish what kinds of businesses are allowed in. Spoiler alert, cannabis retailers aren't included.

Indeed, the ordinances, as currently proposed, would allow for cultivation, distribution, wholesaling, delivery and manufacturing in a number of new zones where they would be allowed to operate. Nowhere in the ordinances does the borough account for new cannabis retailers.

Oakland officials have proposed three ordinances to amend three different pieces of the current cannabis rules:

• Zoning
• Taxes
• Licensing

All of these matters are set to be discussed at an upcoming public hearing in the borough, scheduled for Monday. It's not yet clear if a vote will be taken.

Officials created the existing ordinance, which bans cannabis businesses, ahead of a state deadline to do so on Aug. 21, and they weren't alone.

Numerous community officials in the state chose to do so for a few reasons, not the least of which because they could amend the ordinance to allow cannabis businesses at any time.

Had officials decided to allow businesses prior to that August deadline, however, they would have to wait for five years to consider a ban.

Read more: Marijuana Is Legal In NJ. But Can Towns Still Ban It?