Belmar To Introduce Pot Ban Ordinance

BELMAR, NJ – The borough of Belmar’s council will be introducing an ordinance that would ban all marijuana-related businesses in the borough, including cultivating.

If passed, Belmar would join other local municipalities like Wall to ban all marijuana-related businesses, including cultivation and delivery service.

According to the ordinance being introduced, this ordinance would last for five years.

This ordinance stems from a discussion at their May 18 council meeting where the council passed an ordinance banning the use of cannabis on municipal property. During the meeting, Mayor Mark Walsifer asked the council what their thoughts were about cannabis being sold in the borough.

Councilwoman Patricia Wann, along with Councilmen James McCracken and Tom Carvelli stating that they are for a ban, with Carvelli wanting to hear the public’s opinion on the matter. Councilman Thomas Brennan, who has a medicinal card, pointed out that Belmar voters approved the legalization of marijuana by a two-to-one margin while also noting that Belmar wasn’t exactly the ideal location for potential marijuana-related businesses.

"They're not looking for Main Street in Belmar," Brennan said at the May 18 meeting.