Piscataway Seeks To Ban Marijuana Businesses From Opening

PISCATAWAY, NJ — This week, Piscataway Twp. introduced legislation that will prohibit marijuana from being sold anywhere in the Township.

The town ordinance specifically prohibits "cannabis businesses" from opening up within the geographical boundaries of the Township.

No similar ordinance has been introduced in nearby towns like New Brunswick, Edison or Woodbridge. However, Warren Twp. and Bridgewater have both introduced ordinances to ban pot shops. Bernards Township and Hillsborough are also both looking into it.

The ordinance was brought up for a first reading at the Tuesday night, May 11 Piscataway Council meeting, said a town spokesman. It will be up for second reading and a vote at the next meeting on June 10.

"This is a family town," Mayor Brian Wahler said Tuesday night, according to MyCentralJersey. "It’s one thing for a neighbor to use a legal product in the privacy of his or her own home; it’s another thing to have a marijuana store down the block from your house."

The ban is expected to pass at that June 10 meeting. The public can call into that June 10 meeting and speak either in favor or against the ordinance. The Piscataway Council meetings are held virtually; notices are posted on the Twp. website the day before.

Why are so many New Jersey towns banning marijuana and pot shops?

Gov. Phil Murphy legalized marijuana and commercial marijuana sales this year, after an overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters (more than 70 percent) said they supported legalizing marijuana, via a public ballot question in the November 2020 election.

However, many towns in the state have said they do not want to have pot shops open in their towns.

Earlier in 2021, the New Jersey League of Municipalities urged townships to take action now and pass laws that ban marijuana sales within the next six months. The League of Municipalities warned that towns have until Aug. 22 to enact these ordinances and if not, the township wouldn't be able to ban marijuana businesses from opening for the next five years.

This is because the state has not entirely codified, or sorted out, its laws around marijuana businesses, said the League.

“Unfortunately, the state doesn’t have clear rules on cannabis," Wahler said Tuesday, according to MyCentralJersey. "If the township doesn’t opt out now, we would be held to whatever the state comes up with and that may not be good for Piscataway."

Read More: Public Hearing, Final Vote Set For Marijuana Bans In Warren (May 13)

Bridgewater Bans Marijuana Sales Despite Public Disapproval (April 6)

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