The mayor’s plan for legalized marijuana businesses has run into criticism from City Council members calling for numerous changes, such as increasing the minimum distance between cannabis stores and homes, schools and houses of worship.
Council members said they want tighter restrictions on the number of cannabis businesses that would be allowed in Paterson, their hours of operation and their zoning status. City legislators also said the plan should increase the number of city residents the establishments must hire, impose higher penalties for violators and create additional provisions benefiting minority-owned businesses.
With the city estimating it could collect as much as $1.5 million in annual fees from the cannabis industry, council members say the proposed law ought to set aside portions of the marijuana revenue for recreation programs, the Public Works Department and property tax relief.