More towns took a stand or plan to take a stand against marijuana.
The Freehold Township Committee voted unanimously to bar all sales of marijuana in the township, the Asbury Park Press reported. The ban included medical marijuana in addition to recreational.
The Township Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to ban marijuana sales, both medicinal and recreational, while legislators figure out what weed legalization will look like in the Garden State.
It probably didn't come as a shock to anyone in the meeting room Tuesday night. What was perhaps more surprising was that the hour-long discussion ended in a spat about decorum and resources for veterans.
Council members let their views on a state measure that would legalize marijuana for recreational purposes be known during their last meeting of September.
Councilman Scott Martin spoke out strongly against the proposed legislation, citing statistics, and saying, “I support the legalization of marijuana for medical use, but as a councilman I am deeply troubled by the effect legalizing recreational marijuana will have on today’s youth.”
While several townships neighboring Monroe have passed various versions of anti-marijuana laws, Monroe has yet to make a decision.
Residents questioned the lack of township plans this month, indicating that they believe it is time for the municipal government to take action banning recreational marijuana use.
“This is very important. We request that the Monroe Township pass an ordinance preemptively banning recreational use of marijuana,” said Parkash Parab. “This is not good for our residents.”
The Township Council plans to draft prohibitions that would add them to the list of New Jersey towns that oppose recreational marijuana sales irrespective of a state law that would legalize the use of the drug.
"There are too many problems associated with it," Mayor Kramer said. "The estimated value in revenue is outweighed by the headaches and complications it will cause our law enforcement."
The planning board approved an ordinance banning marijuana-related sales and businesses Thursday night. Now the proposal goes to the township committee for review.
The planning board is preemptive since New Jersey legislators have not yet voted on a marijuana legalization bill, Mayor Anthony Ammiano said.
The move, which follows a Sept. 12 advisory from the New Jersey State League of Municipalities on the direction of proposed marijuana legislation in Trenton, was introduced as a proposed ordinance on Sept. 13 and was unanimously ratified by the governing body on Thursday.
Wantage Mayor Bill Gaechter said that with momentum building in the state Legislature to have New Jersey become the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana, township officials felt it advisable to act now rather than be caught flat-footed after the fact by whatever legislation emerges.
More towns vote no: Another week and more New Jersey towns are making decisions on whether they approve or disapprove of the possibility of marijuana businesses in their community.
Municipalities that voted to either say no or are preparing to say no to cannabis include:
Florham Park unanimously approved a resolution opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana by the state as well as an ordinance “prohibiting marijuana within all zones” in the township.
Executing the third veto of his administration, Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr. on Sept. 22 negated a nearly unanimous council vote banning both recreational and medical marijuana in the borough, saying the measure was rushed and otherwise negligent.
Reaction, including from Police Chief Michael Pontillo, was sharp.
The borough is the latest to ban medicinal and recreational marijuana within its borders, after getting an increased amount of interest from potential businesses.
"We've been getting requests from business seeing if the town would be objecting to it and were interested in setting up shop here," Palisades Park Mayor James Rotundo said. "We wanted to look into it, and then the calls to set up shop here started to increase."