Chatham Borough Looking Into Banning Marijuana Businesses

CHATHAM BOROUGH, NJ — Chatham Borough officials are in the process of developing a potential ban on marijuana businesses. Although New Jersey recently legalized recreational-marijuana use, Chatham Borough and Township are among several towns likely to ban related businesses within their municipalities.

Two residents, including former Council Member Bob Weber, spoke about the issue during the public-comment portion of Monday's Borough Council meeting, hoping officials would prohibit such businesses. Currently, Chatham Borough's attorney is researching which ordinance(s) officials could pass on the matter.

"Back in March," said Mayor Thaddeus J. Kobylarz, "I instructed our borough attorney to begin developing, formulating and drawing up a possible ordinance or set or ordinances that would address the issue of opting out."

Gov. Phil Murphy signed three bills into law Feb. 22 to legalize recreational weed for adults. Cities and towns have 180 days — until Aug. 22 — to pass rules banning such businesses if they choose to. But towns that don't meet that deadline wouldn't be able to pass a similar ban until five years later, and businesses established during that time would get grandfathered in even if a towns implements such a ban in the future.

"As we speak tonight, there is a vacant storefront next to the Scoops ice cream parlor," Weber said. "I would hate to see a shop that sells marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles open up next to such a popular spot for children. Without further legislation by the council, the borough would be hard-pressed to prevent it."

Officials said they're very aware of the Aug. 22 deadline. Borough attorney Steve Kleinman says the borough short be in a position shortly to make a decision on how to regulate recreational-marijuana businesses.

One resident tried to ask council members whether they'd commit to prohibiting such businesses in the borough. Kobylarz said that the public-comment portion of the meeting wouldn't be the place for them to answer, but "I suspect you will not be disappointed."

In 2018, Chatham Township Committee unanimously passed an ordinance banning marijuana cultivation, production or manufacturing. Although recreational weed was still illegal in New Jersey, several towns preemptively imposed bans to prepare for the possibility of future legalization.

New Jersey's legislation nullifies those local ordinances but gives municipalities the opportunity to pass such laws again. The township has prepared to pass such legislation again.

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