The Jersey City Council reviewed an ordinance capping cannabis dispensaries at 48 during yesterday’s caucus, scheduled as such to recognize Columbus Day on Monday. 
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The ordinance is scheduled for a second on Thursday after being shelved for over a year. The governing body reintroduced the measure at their September 11th meeting, where it was approved unanimously (9-0).
“The council should opine and make a decision on this,” began Jersey City Senior Planner Matt Ward regarding the long delay.
He also noted there was a related ordinance on how close dispensaries could be located next to each other was tabled.
“It was essentially pulling back a dual responsibility for cannabis establishments and distributors between the planning board and zoning board/the cannabis control board. It was fully handing over the reins to the Cannabis Control Board, which is what the second reading ordinance before you does,” he explained.
He also urged them to adopt what was now in front of them.
“That would be the accompanying ordinance?” Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh asked.
“There would still be this two-headed anima between city planning and CCB. It would remove a hoop for potential business owners,” Ward replied.
Acting Corporation Counsel Brittany Murray said they previously referred the ordinance to the planning Board and this was their recommendation.
“We did clarify the grandfathering language. Anybody that files an application before the moratorium went in place would be grandfathered in in terms of the caps in the ward,” she explained, noting that this would likely mean the cap would end up being exceeded.
Murray also noted that vehicles can be used for delivery as long as they have a CRC license before discussing additional details.
“If a business has been given a council resolution of support and they have not opened in months months, that must be included in the report from the CCB provided to the council quarterly,” Murray said.
“We went through a draft of the ordinance in terms of the word school. It does not include universities. To make that consistent, we’ve removed university or institute of higher education and replaced it with public or non-public secondary or elementary school.”
Council President Joyce Watterman said she wanted to keep cannabis vendors away from events such as festival, claiming she saw edibles being sold at an event over the weekend.
However, Murray said that would be a violation of state law since cannabis is universally legal in New Jersey.
“We need to put something in there. I went to various places and I was shocked,” Watterman added.
“Governor Murphy recently signed a bill regarding hemp and regulation of hemp products. We’re waiting on regulations from that. There was also a partial dismissal of it in the federal court,” Murray said.
Assistant Corporation Counsel John McKinney explained that federal legalization of hemp by Congress created a unique situation and marketplace.
“That’s probably what you’re seeing,” he said.
Watterman noted how difficult the process is to open a legal cannabis dispensary.
“Now they’re just setting up a table on the outside, and they could sell it to anyone. What can we put in place to safeguard it? it is happening,” she continued.
“Federal law says it legal. We’re probably going to have to wait and see how this plays out,” McKinney answered.
“When you’re at these festivals, some of these children look wrong. If something happens, they look to the city,” Watterman stated.
McKinney said that if anyone is selling cannabis to minors, that certainly would not be tolerated.
“If someone is doing a market, or whatever, and they would have to disclose if there’s hemp or any controlled substances. That would be part of the application,” Saleh suggested, also asking for due diligence in checking IDs.
“That’s fine,” Murray said.
Business Administrator John Metro said the permitting process is the best way to regulate that.
“So, the cap now is what?” Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore asked.
“It’s gonna be 48 in total: Eight per ward,” Murray replied.
“But the distance … has shrunk?” Gilmore asked.
“It’s no longer a strict requirement that they be 600 feet apart. They have to notify the CCB of everybody located within 600 feet,” Murray answered.
Gilmore said that there are currently more than 48 dispensaries in the pipeline and wanted clarity on how the city would handle that.
“Say 50 get approved in total. The CCB can set periods for when they’ll take new applications,” Murray responded, noting that it would be a case by case basis.
“Can you just describe the rules around transferring licenses? If we’ve issued eight per ward, if one of the 8 goes out of business. What happens to that license? Can they sell it?” Ward E Councilman James Solomon asked.
“I can look into that. The CRC (New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission) oversees that. We can fill that application,” Murray said.
“Can we get a list of every approved license per ward … and everything in the pipeline?” Solomon questioned, to which Murray said they would.
She also mentioned that Ward D has the most, stating she believes 14 are now open.
“Pot City!” Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano exclaimed, and Saleh chuckled.
In addition, Commerce Director Maynard Woodson noted A Higher Ground dispensary was had a resolution on the agenda to open at 41 Marin Blvd. They received CCB approval in November 2023.
“There are no distance issues,” he noted, to which Gilmore asked them to reach out to him.
There are already 48 dispensaries approved by the city council, according to the commerce department’s map.
Jersey City Council again reviews capping cannabis dispensaries at 48 during caucus – Hudson County View
