The marijuana code in the township could change amid shifting state guidelines and persistent interest in entering the nascent cannabis industry.
The Township Committee introduced an ordinance Nov. 22 that would specify how municipal licenses are awarded to aspirant marijuana businesses. All classes of marijuana-business licenses, under the ordinance, would be awarded on a “nondiscriminatory first-come first-serve basis,” with priority given in the order that businesses complete the state licensure process and local land-use regulations.
The township would not show any other preferences to those applying for either the standard, conditional or microbusiness licenses.
Township Administrator Donna Markulic said the changes were prompted by conversations with state officials earlier this month. They made the township aware that the state was being more liberal in its decisions to award licenses to marijuana-business applicants who have obtained resolutions of support from their local municipalities. The state had previously advised township officials, Markulic said, to issue more recommendations than there were available municipal licenses in the township, as a significant share of applicants would be rejected even with the township’s support.