The vote follows open public forums held by the Borough on June 29th and August 17th, to elicit the views of residents on whether or not to approve cannabis sales, and public comment sessions at the July 6th and August 3rd Mayor and Borough Council meetings, that invited feedback from residents on the prospects of cannabis sales in town.
The ordinance approved by the Borough Council allows Class 5 Cannabis Retailers in the CBD Central Business District and the C Commercial District and Class 6 Cannabis Delivery Services throughout the town. The ordinance prohibits Cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and wholesale businesses from operating in the Borough.
In discussion leading up to the vote, Council members took note of the fact that in the statewide ballot question in November 2020 on whether or not to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in New Jersey, 68.4% of Highland Park residents voted ‘Yes,’ exceeding the statewide total of 67.08%. The Council also recognized that their two neighboring towns, Edison and New Brunswick, have already taken steps to allow cannabis sales in their borders.
Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler of Highland Park stated: “With cannabis sales slated to be allowed in our two large bordering towns, it is a moot point as to whether or not there will be cannabis consumed in our town. It most certainly will. What this new ordinance does is enable Highland Park to influence how cannabis will be distributed in Highland Park and to reap tax benefits from its retail sales.”