In the November 2020 election, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum that called for the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes. Governor Murphy and the New Jersey legislature enacted state law that allows local governments to determine whether they would allow the sale of recreational cannabis in their municipalities.
The Montclair Township Council voted to introduce ordinances which allow the issuance of two cannabis retailer licenses as well as one license each for delivery service, wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, and cultivation, while maintaining the right to determine where the businesses can be located. I support this common-sense approach of offering a limited number of licenses until we can determine the market for these services in Montclair. We can increase the number of licenses in the future as necessary. The Township must act before the August 21 state deadline in order to be able to engage in regulation of the industry in town.
The State allows local governments to tax cannabis production and retail sales. This will bring new direct revenue to the Township which will benefit all residents. Montclair has been a leader in destigmatizing cannabis through our efforts as one of a limited number of municipalities in New Jersey that allows for distribution of medicinal cannabis. Our efforts now, will ensure that we work to reverse the nationwide injustices related to cannabis arrests which disproportionately affect minority communities.