Marijuana dispensaries are banned after an ordinance that split the Borough Council along party lines was adopted on Monday night.
Republican Mayor Mary Jane Canose broke a 3-3 council tie, voting for the ordinance that bans both recreational and medicinal dispensaries.
The law had produced several pointed discussions in recent months but was approved following a public hearing in which no residents spoke and only one council member commented.
The council’s three GOP members – Chris Schmidt, John Donahue and Diane Greenfield – voted for the ordinance. Democrats Dr. Jeff Hammond, Thomas O’Dea and Christine Zammara opposed the measure. In past meetings, Democrats voiced opposition to the ban because it includes medical marijuana dispensaries which they had argued for allowing.
During an interview Tuesday morning, Canose said her vote was related to her work as a board member for the organization Downtown Bernardsville, and not party politics.
“It was not a political issue,” she said. “It was not about siding with the Republicans or against the Democrats.”
Downtown Bernardsville is working on revitalizing the borough’s business district, she said. Part of that is developing a town brand as a place that focuses on cultural activity and restaurants.