Cannabis Businesses Prohibited In Chester Township For Now

CHESTER, NJ — After tabling its vote on the ordinance of disallowing cannabis businesses of any type in Chester Township, the council voted at its meeting on Tuesday night to adopt the prohibition ordinance by 4 to 1.

The ordinance passage had been delayed after the Chester Township Council at its prior meeting on May 18 voted 3 to 2 to table it. Two voted to move it forward, with the majority suggesting the ordinance be revisited at a future meeting. It was adopted after further discussion and another public hearing on Tuesday.

The council has invited experts to its next meeting on Tuesday, June 15, including an attorney advising the township on the topic, for a presentation to the council and members of the public, including how the township may like to move forward with an ordinance of this type, if the council decides to in the future.

Mayor Marcia Asdal said Chester Township’s Police Chief Thomas Williver may also speak about cannabis-related issues from a police perspective.

“We will be hearing from some experts at our next council meeting so we can all - council and public - begin to understand the nuances of the cannabis law before we chart a path forward,” Asdal said.

After introducing the ordinance on April 20, there were concerns about passing one allowing cannabis businesses, with Asdal having said just before the May 18 meeting when it was initially up for adoption, municipalities had received little guidance from the State of New Jersey. By placing a ban on businesses, it provides government bodies with more time to explore the topic, with the state having placed an Aug. 22 deadline for towns to pass ordinances allowing or prohibiting cannabis businesses.

Municipalities, she also said, would be locked into their decision for five years, after permitting cannabis businesses within their borders.

The June 1 meeting was the first in-person meeting back in Town Hall, with the next meeting there beginning at 7 p.m.

Click Chester Township's meeting calendar for more information.

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.