The zoning ordinance mainly prohibits a retail business that would seek to open in Secaucus and sell recreational pot and paraphernalia, should recreational marijuana become legal in the state, explained Ken Porro, the town's general counsel. Any such business would have to first seek a variance from the Town Council to open, a variance they likely would not get.
"We already have medical marijuana, which we approve of," said Mayor Mike Gonnelli Tuesday night at the meeting. He was referring to the state's sixth and final medical marijuana dispensary that has been in operation for about a month on Castle Road. "It's here and I think they've sold to about 1,000 patients so far. We haven't had any problems with that. But recreational marijuana we have an issue with."
"This is something we're going to take all the way," the mayor vowed, clearly passionate about the issue. "We're trying to get a jump on this before Gov. Murphy adopts (recreational) marijuana. And because Secaucus has a medical marijuana facility already, we don't want that to turn into a recreational marijuana facility."