At the 2020 general election, New Jersey voters approved a public question to amend the state constitution legalizing cannabis which Governor Phil Murphy signed into law February 22.
The law gave all townships six months to decide to allow or ban marijuana on the local level. Section 31B of the act stipulated that if they did not pass the ordinance by August 22, 2021, then for the next five years, anyone could cultivate, manufacture, sell or distribute marijuana anywhere in the township without risking arrest and prosecution.
However, the state isn’t going to issue rules and regulations until after August which Councilman Steven Cahn said is disappointing.
“Opting-in without knowing what the rules are isn’t smart township planning,” said Cahn adding that he voted in-favor of legalization when it was on the ballot.
When the state does hand down the rules for them to follow, Cahn said the township will be able to amend the ban to allow for legal weed within its boundaries if officials determine it’s in township’s best interest.