6/6/18 Business Meeting

By: Joseph L. Kuchie

Councilman Thomas Reilly

SOUTH AMBOY – The city of South Amboy is looking for ways to prevent businesses from selling marijuana in town as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy continues his push for the legalization of the substance.

If passed, Gov. Murphy’s proposed recreational marijuana bill would allow for the sale of recreational marijuana to persons 21 and older. The bill states that “controlling and regulating the manufacture, distribution, and sale of marijuana will strengthen [the state’s] ability to keep marijuana away from minors” and “the tax revenue generated from a controlled marijuana manufacture, distribution, and retail sales system in New Jersey will generate hundreds of millions of dollars to bolster effective, evidence based drug treatment and education, and to reinvest in New Jersey communities.” 

The bill would also allow up to 98 dispensaries to actively sell marijuana in New Jersey, up from the six that are currently open across the state. Councilman Brian McLaughlin asked if there was a way to limit the sale of marijuana in South Amboy, as a number of towns including Point Pleasant Beach, Carlstadt, Garfield, and Hasbrouck Heights have already passed bills blocking marijuana establishments from their towns.

The city currently has an ordinance that restricts certain establishments from opening on Broadway, including tattoo parlors and laundromats. Councilman Tom Reilly asked City Law Director John Lanza if they could include the sale of marijuana to the list of restrictions, which he said they could. 

City Attorney John Lanza

Lanza suggested that the restriction of marijuana sales be addressed in the new zoning ordinance that is being put together by Heyer, Gruel, and Associates. South Amboy’s zoning ordinance is currently being updated for the first time since 1978, so the time to make additions or changes would be now.

This restriction, if passed, would only affect sales on Broadway to start. Council President Gross asked Lanza if he can make the restriction as broad as legally possible.

All council members were in attendance for the business meeting. The next city council meeting will be held on June 20 at 7:00 p.m.