There are currently seven businesses going through the state application process to open in West Orange. However, the ordinance, as it is currently written, has been called into question, as federal guidelines state that cannabis businesses should be more than 1,000 feet away from these areas, not the 200-foot distance for which the businesses were approved according to the West Orange ordinance.
Among those advocating in favor of cannabis businesses locating in West Orange are former Councilwoman Cindy Manute-Brown, cannabis attorney Scheril Murray Powell and Precious Osagie-Erese, the chief operations officer of Roll Up Life Inc., a cannabis delivery company servicing New Jersey.
Brett Carroll, a cannabis dispensary applicant and West Orange resident, discussed the obstacles that his cannabis business has faced since receiving its letter of approval from Township Council.
βI am here on behalf of the chemistry project. We are another cannabis applicant that received approval from this board,β Carroll said at the meeting.
βOn Dec. 20, we got approval from the Zoning Board for our building. Last week, the request was rescinded because of a proposed change in the ordinance. This is the third time that we have gotten a building just for it to be rescinded. This is very frustrating.β