Among revenue sources, the borough expects to collect $400,000 in new funds from cannabis permit fees. While there are no public retail stores in the borough, the budget's revenues shows a new line item of $400,000 in cannabis fees.
Ascend has operated a medical marijuana growing facility near the intersection of Munsonhurst Road and Route 23 for several years and has received permission to expand into the adjacent former armory building to grow marijuana for sales into the public retail market.
State law requires anyone involved in the various stages of growing, harvesting, processing, transportation and retail sales of marijuana obtain a state permit. The law also allows municipalities to levy their own tax on each of those operations.
The council has not granted any permissions for retail stores in the borough, however, was approached by a resident about the possibilities. Cynthia Barton said at that meeting that she was interested in opening a retail store and provided the council with information about state licensing requirements.