The township held a cannabis forum Monday night — offering information on what allowing weed businesses may look like for Cherry Hill while also hearing from the public. About 10 members of the public spoke, sharing a wide range of views — some for, some against and others unsure.
When New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, Cherry Hill opted against allowing weed businesses, including dispensaries, into the township. Officials wanted to wait and observe the impacts of legal recreational cannabis in the state.
Now, the township is revisiting the idea of letting the industry into Cherry Hill. That decision-making process will include several public forums on the topic — Monday's was the first, with future dates to be determined.
Lonnie Affrime — a Cherry Hill native in the cannabis industry — advocated for the township to allow such businesses so it could better regulate weed consumption. But he warned that adding too many restrictions would only allow larger, non-local businesses to set up shop. (Affrime is the CEO of Voltaire, which plans to open a dispensary this September in Mount Holly.)
"A lot of them do not care. They’re here for the money," Affrime said. "I think a lot of the small operators really care about the community. They want to do right by you."