Three towns apparently couldn't wait for New Jersey to legalize marijuana. So they just took a vote themselves this past Tuesday – and the results may be a little surprising.
Nearly fifty-four percent of Union Township residents voted to support marijuana sales in their community, even though New Jersey has not yet made pot legal.
In Vineland, support for some form of marijuana legislation was even stronger: 60.42 percent voted yes while 39.58 voted no.
Here are the questions and how voters responded, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's election:
Voters in Tuesday’s midterm election approved a public question that would allow the city to permit medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities within its limits.
According to election results from the Cumberland County Clerk’s Office, more than 60 percent of voters in the city’s 36 districts approved the question — 8,968 voted yes, while 5,896 voted no.
The nonbinding referendum was placed on the ballot to gauge public opinion on the potential of the medical marijuana industry and its future in the city.
Cannabis legalization goes before the voters in a number of states on Nov. 6. This year’s highlights:
Michigan and North Dakota will decide statewide measures on the legalization of adult-use cannabis.
Utah and Missouri will consider medical marijuana legalization initiatives.
Other states will consider smaller reforms or advisory measures, including Ohio and Wisconsin.
Yes, Union Can, an organization advocating for the retail sale of cannabis within township borders if recreational marijuana become legal in New Jersey, held a grand opening of their campaign headquarters on Stuyvesant Avenue on Thursday evening.
“We, at Yes, Union Can, are excited about the grand opening of our campaign headquarters,” said Victoria Piatnochka, Campaign Manager. “It is unique from other campaign offices because it is located in the center of town to capture the largest engagement from voters.”
At the Aug. 28 Dennis Township Committee meeting a presentation was made by Evergreen Curative LLC regarding its interest in applying for a state medical marijuana license and potentially locating a facility in Dennis Township.
Emmett Vandergrift, co-owner of Evergreen Curative LLC, a New Jersey-based medical marijuana organization, asked the committee if the township would support or oppose such a facility.
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Residents in Bridgeton will get a chance in November to have their say on whether marijuana should be sold in their city and if so, where — despite the lack of concrete action from New Jersey state legislators.
And opinions from some of the people who live in Bridgeton range widely in a city that would welcome newly created jobs but fear the possible social cost of allowing something that could be used as an intoxicant.
The question on the ballot will read: "Shall the City of Vineland permit the siting of medical marijuana cultivation and dispensary alternative treatment centers within the geographic boundaries of Vineland?"
The measure was approved unanimously and without debate at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night.
Residents will have their say on whether marijuana businesses should operate in Bridgeton if the state legalizes sales of the drug.
City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to put a public question on the November general election ballot polling voters on their desire to see marijuana retail facilities in Bridgeton.
Michigan residents will decide whether to legalize the sale, possession and use of marijuana for recreational purposes in November, after a state board certified supporters had turned in enough signatures to qualify for the fall ballot.
The state Board of Canvassers agreed Thursday that backers of the ballot measure had turned in about 277,000 valid signatures, more than the 252,523 they needed to qualify for the ballot.