The meeting began with a presentation from Slap Consulting, LLC on the sale and use of cannabis in the town of Hammonton. The presentation outlined and discussed several key points on the sale of cannabis, such as some state guidelines for the sale of the substance, some economic benefits and the risks associated with allowing the sale of cannabis.
Some of the key points in this presentation involved potential revenue for the town of Hammonton, security concerns and some of the optimal points where cannabis dispensaries should be placed.
Amanda Ostrowitz, the founder of Slap Consulting and the presenter at the meeting, gave an overview of multiple guidelines and laws for cannabis dispensaries. She pointed out that, security-wise, towns that sold recreational adult-use cannabis experienced a plateau of crime or, in some cases a decrease. She ensured the council that laws require cannabis dispensaries to keep all of their products in opaque containers so that the product cannot be seen. Sellers are not allowed to market to children in any way and children are not allowed in dispensary facilities whatsoever.
She said that Hammonton could gain up to $1 million in extra revenue over the course of 10 years if sales are handled properly.
“We already know that cannabis is legal in New Jersey and it’s up to each locality to decide if they’re going to use it,” Ostrowitz said. “But at the end of the day, cannabis is already in Hammonton and every other jurisdiction in New Jersey, and it’s a question of whether or not Hammonton wants to regulate cannabis in this jurisdiction and provide safe access and reap the economic benefits.”