Ocean City Plans To Ban Marijuana Sales

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City Council proposed an ordinance on Thursday that would ban marijuana sales and cultivation anywhere in the resort town.

Ocean City approved a similar ordinance two years ago, when the council voted unanimously to ban marijuana businesses.

According to Mayor Jay Gillian, that ordinance became invalid after Gov. Phil Murphy signed new legislation on Feb. 22 legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults.

“I have asked city council to adopt a new ordinance to reinstate these prohibitions,” Gillian wrote in his weekly update to residents. “The new legislation gives municipalities 180 days to do so.”

The ordinance prohibits businesses that cultivate, manufacture, test or sell marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia.

Council members criticized the state’s legalization of recreational marijuana during a Feb. 25 council meeting.

Officials had concerns about the use of cannabis and alcohol by young people. Under the new laws, first time underage offenders will be given a written warning, rather than criminal penalties or fines. Law enforcement is prohibited from notifying their parents or guardians.

Ocean City's reputation as a "family-friendly resort town" also caused council members to consider how marijuana use on the Boardwalk and beach would impact the city's image. Ocean City is a dry town where alcohol sales have been banned since it was founded.

Although public smoking or other consumption of marijuana is banned in parks and on public beaches, council members said reports of marijuana use spiked in the city last summer, which they believe will continue to happen with official legalization.

The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and final vote at the April 8 council meeting.

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