Cannabis on the ballot
Recent council concerns about cannabis businesses in the borough are reflected in two non-binding questions on the ballot:
Question 1: “Do you support allowing cannabis businesses to operate in the Borough of Oakland for cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling and distribution of recreational cannabis defined as Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 cannabis licenses by New Jersey state statutes and regulations?”
Council members voted to approve a cannabis cultivation facility on Muller Road, but then debated a possible November referendum question to see if residents want such businesses in the borough.
A year after the borough said yes to non-retail cannabis businesses in designated zones, it's having second thoughts.
Council members are talking of possibly repealing three ordinances passed last year as soon as Wednesday.
Last week's hourlong council work session debate on repeal stemmed in part from a $6.8 million tort claim filed against the borough on Dec. 21 by Kusala Care LLC, seeking damages after the borough failed to act on its Aug. 20 application to open a cannabis cultivation facility in a warehouse zoned for that purpose on Muller Road.
The Borough Council unanimously approved three ordinances Monday night that will allow non-retail cannabis businesses to locate in the borough's industrial zones.
Ordinances 21-CODE-863, 872 and 873 were unanimously approved by the council without any comment from the public.
Ordinance 863 defines the zones. Ordinance 872 sets out licensing regulations. Ordinance 873 establishes procedures for the 2% transfer taxes on those businesses.
Three ordinances proposing non-retail cannabis operations in the borough will be the subject of public hearings and possible votes Monday.
No cannabis business has applied to the borough, said Borough Administrator Richard Kunze. The ordinances are intended to define what businesses will be allowed in the future, where they can be and how they will be regulated.
The Borough Council voted, 4-1, on Wednesday to override Mayor Linda Schwager's veto of their June 9 ordinance banning all six classes of marijuana business.
Schwager, who said the veto was the first in her three terms as mayor, said she had sought to delay the ban until an ad hoc committee could more fully assess and advise the council of the tax benefits to be gained from allowing one or more of the business classes to operate in the borough.
Mayor Linda Schwager will face off with the Borough Council on Wednesday over an ordinance banning marijuana businesses in town.
The ordinance banning all six classes of marijuana businesses was adopted by the council on June 9 despite Schwager's request to postpone a vote until an ad hoc committee had a chance to present its findings on the possible benefits and resident preferences.
By law, Schwager has 10 days after receiving the ordinance to either approve it or return it to the council with a statement of objections.
On June 9, council members in Pompton Lakes confirmed their town's place on the list.
Michael Serra, the town’s mayor, said it was clear residents supported the idea of being able to legally smoke marijuana.
More than 65% of voters in Bergen and Passaic counties in the 2020 General Election approved an amendment to the state constitution legalizing recreational cannabis and establishing a state-regulated market in New Jersey. Pompton Lakes voters were on trend.
Legal cannabis dispensary operators and industry members said they fear more targeted looting as well as attacks by professional criminals this week amid national civil unrest over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Several dozen dispensaries in California and two in Oregon were subject to a wide range of criminal acts over the weekend, including vandalism, ransacking, and targeted professional robberies. At least one cannabis producer and a licensed distributor in California also reported being robbed.
As a new industry, cannabis is evolving fast. Try to jump into the market looking at the current opportunities, and you’re going to end up behind. On day one. Every industry needs innovators and market builders. But success in cannabis takes visionary skills, as well. Take for instance the race right now to become a multi-state operator (MSOs). In most instances, bigger is better. MSOs create a larger addressable market by having a presence in several marijuana-legal states. Yet, scale comes at a cost.