Livingston To Hold Public Meeting On NJ's Legal Marijuana Laws

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The clock is ticking on New Jersey towns if they want to pass local laws banning or regulating legal marijuana, including Livingston.

The Livingston Town Council will hold a public forum on Tuesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. No formal action will be taken.

According to a municipal news release, the purpose of the meeting is to gather public input on the state's new laws, which legalized recreational cannabis use for adults. Read More: 5 Things You Need To Know About Marijuana Legalization In NJ

The public can livestream the meeting at the township's Facebook page. People can also attend via telephone by calling one of the following dial-in numbers: (312) 626-6799, (646) 558-8656, (301) 715-8592, (346) 248-7799, (669) 900-9128. Residents can also view the meeting online here (use below login information):

• Webinar ID: 847 2593 2281
• Passcode: 257739

When state lawmakers crafted the legalization bill, they left room for individual municipalities to ban or limit the number of cannabis businesses operating in their communities. This includes dispensaries, delivery services and growers. Read More: Marijuana Is Legal In NJ. But Can Towns Still Ban It?

But an outright local ban may not come easy. Here's why:

• Any municipal marijuana-ban ordinance that predated the legalization bill is null and void under A-21. Town governments now have a 180-day period from when the bill was enacted to pass a new one, and the clock is already ticking.
• The exact deadline to pass an ordinance is Aug. 21, according to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
• If they don't pass an ordinance in that time, not only will marijuana businesses be allowed to operate, but town officials won't have another chance to issue a ban for a period of five years.
• Municipalities have no authority to stop the delivery of cannabis items by a delivery service within their jurisdiction, the New Jersey League of Municipalities advises, and only the state's cannabis commission can regulate what time these delivery services operate.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN NJ: QUICK RECAP

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

Now, adults 21 and over are allowed to consume cannabis on private property. Similar to New Jersey's alcohol laws, it's still illegal to smoke or consume marijuana in a public place, such as a park or the beach.

Underage use is prohibited, but results in a series of written warnings instead of fines and arrest.

Cannabis has also been decriminalized in New Jersey. You can possess up to six ounces of marijuana or 17 grams of hashish without penalty.

It's legal to buy up to an ounce of cannabis at a licensed dispensary (see below). New Jersey residents can't grow marijuana at home.

The state's new marijuana laws also provide some limited protection for employees.

New Jersey employers can't fire or refuse to hire a worker if they use cannabis on their own time. But bosses will still be able to discipline or fire employees if they get high on the job. Random workplace testing and pre-employment drug screenings will still be allowed.

This article contains reporting by Montana Samuels, Patch staff

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