Public Hearing, Final Vote Set For Marijuana Bans In Warren

WARREN, NJ — The public will have a chance to speak Thursday night before the Warren Township Committee is expected to vote and finalize an ordinance to essentially prohibit marijuana dispensaries from coming to the township and prohibiting the sale of marijuana in town.

The committee meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the municipal complex off Mountain Boulevard. This meeting is broadcasted live on the Township’s website and Facebook page and available virtually via ZOOM. It is also broadcasted live on the Access Channel and will be taped for rebroadcast.

Public comments at the public hearings for ordinances and resolutions as well as agenda items, are limited to 3 minutes per person, unless extended discussion is permitted by the Mayor.

The ordinance, which was first introduced at the April 15 meeting, points out that the League of Municipalities has urged townships to take action now as the regulations that go along with the dispensaries and sales have not yet been outlined by the state leaving many uncertainties.

In the ordinance, the township also notes that the state is only giving Warren 6 months or until Aug. 22 to enact these ordinances. If not, the township wouldn't be able to ban cannabis businesses from coming to town for 5 years.

"The Township Committee of the Township of Warren has determined that, due to present uncertainties regarding the potential future impacts that allowing one or more classes of cannabis business might have on New Jersey municipalities in general, and in the Township of Warren in particular, it is at this time necessary and appropriate, and in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the Township of Warren residents and members of the public who visit, travel, or conduct business in this Township, to amend the Township of Warren zoning regulations to prohibit all manner of marijuana-related land use and development within the geographic boundaries of the Township," according to the ordinance.

Specifically, Warren's proposed ordinance would prohibit the operation of recreational marijuana retail establishments, recreational marijuana cultivation facilities, recreational marijuana production facilities and recreational marijuana testing facilities.

Warren isn't the first town in Somerset County to take such measures against marijuana businesses. Last month, Bridgewater banned the sale of marijuana in town and smoking on public property on township property. Read More: Bridgewater Bans Marijuana Sales Despite Public Disapproval

Bernards Township and Hillsborough are also both looking to prohibiting marijuana sales within town. Read More: Bernards Twp. Committee Looks Into Restrictions On Marijuana; Hillsborough Looks To Ban Marijuana Sales In Township

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