Garwood Bans Marijuana Businesses For Now

GARWOOD, NJ — Garwood passed a local law on Thursday night banning marijuana businesses from operating in the borough.

"Based on the overwhelming opposition from those who spoke up about this issue and the fact that the State’s Cannabis Commission has not yet set the regulations and procedures for how implementation would work, I am firmly in favor of Garwood opting out at this time," said Mayor Sara Todisco at Thursday night's Council meeting.

The council voted 5 to 1 in favor of opting out of allowing cannabis businesses in the borough. Councilman Sean Benoit was the only one who wanted to allow marijuana facilities in the borough.

Benoit noted that 67 percent of Garwood residents voted in favor of legalizing marijuana in the past November election.

"For me, that fact that the overwhelming majority of our constituents wanted it legalized to me the implication is that those shops are going to be set up to sell it," said Benoit.

Benoit went on to note the positives of being able to collect the tax revenue from the sales and also having the council set up ordinances to regulate it now.

Garwood has until Aug. 21 to take action on amendments, zoning, licensing and regulations around cannabis establishments, per state law. If the borough chooses to ban cannabis businesses now they can reverse this action at any time. However, if the borough doesn't opt-out now they are locked in for the next 5 years.

"The fact that the state cannabis commission has not yet set the regulations and procedures for how this implementation would work. That's why I am in favor of opting out but of course, we can always opt-in at any point in the future. But if we were to opt-in now we would be locked in for 5 years," said Todisco.

Council President Jen Blumenstock concurred with Todisco saying it "just seems logical to me to see how these rules play out."

See below to watch the full June 10 meeting:

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