Livingston has taken a big step towards a local ban on marijuana businesses.
The Livingston Town Council passed ordinance 18-2021 on first reading during their Monday meeting (watch the video below).
If it passes a second reading, the potential law will ban all six classes of cannabis businesses from operating in Livingston: cultivation, manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, delivery services and retail.
A public hearing and final vote is scheduled for the council's meeting on Monday, July 12.
Michael Vieira, the only council member to vote against the ordinance, said it would go against the will of the voters if Livingston chooses to "opt-out" of the state's recently passed recreational cannabis laws.
Vieira pointed out that 17,391 Livingston residents cast votes on a ballot question in the 2020 general election that legalized cannabis in New Jersey. Out of those local residents, 11,339 voted in favor of legalization while only 6,052 voted against it.