With cannabis essentially “already here,” the Borough Council had a decision to make on whether or not they would participate in and benefit from the new legal marketplace in the state.
“Metuchen residents can visit any existing dispensaries or have [the cannabis] delivered to their homes,” Council President Jason Delia said noting there are 19 medicinal and recreational and nine medicinal only businesses in the state and the borough cannot prevent cannabis delivery companies to deliver to a Metuchen address.
“A number of towns have opted into some form of cannabis in their borders with more on the way including many in our neighboring towns. It’s been legal here since 2010 with medical marijuana and if we are honest with ourselves, it’s been here illegally for a long, long time.”
The Council in June opted out of allowing cannabis businesses in the borough in order to have more time for guidance from the state.
Six months later, with much thought and discussion, the Council unanimously adopted an ordinance conditionally permitting Class 3 Cannabis wholesale businesses and Class 5 Cannabis retail businesses within certain zoning districts at a meeting on Oct. 24.