“The thought process on how the repeal is going to work is flawed,” he said. The towns think, “‘we ban everything now, then we change our minds later, so now we want to allow things.’ You have to repeal your opt-out ban. Now, you’re back in a situation where your town does not have a duly adopted law by Aug. 21 to ban certain cannabis businesses.”
Cities and towns that previously banned or allowed medical cannabis will have to make new rules under the legalization law. Maplewood welcomed The Apothecarium’s grand opening last Friday, but Mayor Frank McGehee did not say if the town will allow it to also sell adult-use cannabis.
“I think we will continue to be thoughtful about being a forerunner in cannabis,” he said last week.
Brick, Bridgewater and Sea Isle and are among the cities and towns that have banned cannabis sales. Others, like Orange and Toms River, have considered bans but faced pushback from residents.
Originally Reported By Amanda Hoover | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com