Freehold Township might make up its mind about marijuana long before a legalization bill gets to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk.
The township planning board will vote Thursday night on a proposal to ban businesses, entities and establishments that sell marijuana-related products, according to the meeting agenda.
The proposed ban covers marijuana sales for both medicinal and recreational use, as well as drug paraphernalia.
When it comes to marijuana, the borough council has taken up the anti-drug slogan “just say no.”
The council approved an amendment to its Land Development and Zoning ordinance this month that would ban the sale, distribution, cultivation, manufacture or dispensing of medical or recreational marijuana within the borders of the 0.9-square mile borough.
Adopting the amendment means that even if a Jamesburg-based business wanted to be considered for a medical marijuana dispensary, it would likely be denied since the borough code bans the practice.
The proposed ordinance requires a second reading and vote to be adopted. Prior to a vote an ordinance is always open to comment from the public and the council members.
The next Sparta Township Council meeting is scheduled for October 9 at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.
"I was shocked and disappointed to read on the front cover of a local newspaper that I was accused by Mayor John Birkner of being involved in a partisan stunt with respect to the ordinance banning marijuana in Westwood.
"Clearly, the marijuana issue is not a partisan one, as both Republican- and Democrat-controlled towns have both banned marijuana and its sales in the confines of their communities.
Without comment and as part of a package of 10 otherwise routine resolutions, the Township Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana by the state.
The council also introduced, again without comment and by a unanimous vote, an ordinance "prohibiting marijuana within all zones" in the township.
Ordinance 2018-11, a measure to "Prohibit the Retail/Wholesale Sale of Marijuana Products," would amend the township's zoning regulations to prohibit retail marijuana establishments engaged in the growing, cultivation or sale of marijuana as well as the manufacturing or testing of retail marijuana products.
Retail and wholesale activities involving the processing, storing, transporting, testing, labeling, delivery or distribution of marijuana products would also be prohibited.
Whether Gov. Phil Murphy makes good on his promise to have the state legislature legalize recreational marijuana, it won’t matter much in Secaucus. The mayor and Town Council adopted a zoning ordinance at their Sept. 11 meeting to ban anyone from growing, processing, distributing, or selling recreational marijuana in town.
Originally up for a final vote at the Aug. 29 council, meeting, the council was forced to delay the matter because the county’s planning board had not reviewed the ordinance in time.
The Ringwood ordinance would prohibit the cultivation, processing, testing and sale of cannabis in the community. Wayne, North Haledon and Clifton have adopted bans, but they provide exemptions for medical marijuana. However, Ringwood is on course to join Hawthorne in Passaic County, by enacting an outright ban.
The borough passed the ban in a second required vote Sept. 18, with several on the governing body, including its author, saying the restriction on medical marijuana could always be revisited.
Mayor John Birkner Jr., who spoke for the option to allow for medical marijuana, said on Sept. 19 he is “strongly considering” vetoing the ordinance, which took both bans as one.
Officials have banned sales of marijuana, both medicinal and recreational, in the borough, despite some members of the public arguing that medical marijuana dispensaries should be permitted near Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center.
As the state Legislature moves toward a legal marijuana bill, which one marijuana advocate has said is “98 percent done,” Westwood joined a growing number of towns across North Jersey that have said no to legal weed.