East Brunswick Ordinance Allows Medical Marijuana Businesses

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Town council accepted the Planning Board’s recommendation pertaining to marijuana businesses in East Brunswick, during the June 28 meeting. The ordinance included conditional use for "alternative treatment centers" or medical marijuana.

The East Brunswick council has earlier voted on an ordinance that prohibits all forms of recreational marijuana sale, use, growth, and manufacturing. The council adopted the ordinance and then sent it to the planning board.

Township Attorney Michael Baker said the board met the week before June 28 and recommended minor changes to the ordinance, including cleaning it up in one section by deleting 11 words.

Under the ordinance, medical marijuana facilities have to be located 1,000 feet away from all schools – private and public, preschool, daycare facility, and schools associated with houses of worship.

The ordinance gives the township time to find out what the cannabis commission is going to develop with regard to new rules and regulations, said Baker. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is expected to roll out its rules and regulations governing the marijuana industry in August.

Read More Here: East Brunswick Ordinance Prohibits Cannabis Businesses 'For Now'

During the public comment section, many residents expressed their approval for a medical marijuana facility in the township.

“Medical marijuana is fine,” Camille Clarke, a resident said. “My husband who died of bone cancer had access to the facility in Cranbury, NJ. If we're talking about recreational use, we don’t have to open our doors to that stuff.”

David Herrera, Republican candidate for Township council said he was not here “to shoot down medical cannabis. We are here to talk about recreational use.”

He asked the council not to allow recreational sales within its borders. "I implore the council members, to sit with me as someone who has four years in sobriety, who understands what recreational drugs do to families, what it does to communities, what it does to its constituents... The tax dollars are not there,” he said.

“The last concern of the town council right now should be how to create more tax revenue. We should be talking about how we’re going to make East Brunswick a better town.”

New Jersey voters approved recreational marijuana in November 2020. But it wasn't legal until Gov. Phil Murphy signed the official framework into law on Feb. 22 this year.

A public hearing of the ordinance will be held on July 12.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.