The members of the Matawan Borough Council have adopted an ordinance that establishes an application procedure and licensing fees for cannabis related businesses.
During a meeting on June 9, council members voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.
Borough Administrator Scott Carew explained that in New Jersey, an individual or an entity that seeks to operate a cannabis business is required to receive an endorsement from the municipality in which it seeks to operate.
If an individual or an entity is endorsed by the municipality, a state commission will then determine if the individual or entity will be granted a cannabis business license.
Matawan’s new application procedure will determine which proposed cannabis businesses are eligible for the borough’s endorsement.
In Matawan, applicants will be scored on a variety of criteria which include owner qualifications and current residency; environmental impact of the business; community contributions; hiring practices; employee benefits; cooperation with law enforcement; security standards; and commitment to diversity.