Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
One North Jersey town says it plans revisit the rules it has in place regarding smoke shops, at the same time Trenton prepares to hash out whether marijuana legalization is really coming to the Garden State.
Welcome to Lodisterdam?
Not so fast.
Despite getting ahead of the issue as it waits for the legal smoke to clear, Lodi isn't yet ready to call itself eager to cash in on a budding pot boom.
"We're being proactive here because we know the new governor is going to make some changes," Lodi Mayor Emil Carafa said.
Carafa said he doesn't have an opinion on the legalization of marijuana, but wants his town to be prepared if -- or when -- the legislation is passed.
"We're just waiting to see the implications of what this is going to bring to our community and surrounding communities," Carafa said. "You can't isolate yourself from it. So, you want to be on target with it and moving forward and be able to have a dialogue with the community."
Governor-elect Phil Murphy, a Democrat, supported the idea to legalize recreational marijuana during his campaign, and said in an interview after he was elected that the issue was a "2018 priority."
"Obviously we want to assure that our children and residents feel safe and comfortable should these shops open in Lodi," Councilman Vincent Martin said in an email.
Democrats have already introduced a bill to legalize and tax marijuana. If passed, the state would be the ninth to legalize pot.
Once that happens, the state's hundreds of municipalities would have to weigh whether they would want a slice of the pie and allow businesses to produce and sell in their towns.
Or, they could decide to restrict the sales and forego potential conflict, but miss out on the money.
"I've been around enough time, I'm old enough and I just believe that it's coming and it's something we have to deal with," Carafa said.
The New Jersey League of Municipalities is forming a task force to look at the ramifications of legalizing marijuana.
The group could ultimately offer resources to members to assist them if marijuana were legalized, such as providing them with the correct language to use in an ordinance on regulating the location of a dispensary, Executive Director of the NJ League of Municipalities Michael Darcy said.
"The governor-elect is interested in moving this along expeditiously, so we'll have to work expeditiously as well," Darcy said. "We've got some learning to do."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: North Jersey town readying itself for when the smoke clears on legal weed? | NJ.com
Author: Sara Jerde
Contact: Contact Us information, user services and more on NJ.com | NJ.com Community -
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Website: New Jersey Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - NJ.com
Welcome to Lodisterdam?
Not so fast.
Despite getting ahead of the issue as it waits for the legal smoke to clear, Lodi isn't yet ready to call itself eager to cash in on a budding pot boom.
"We're being proactive here because we know the new governor is going to make some changes," Lodi Mayor Emil Carafa said.
Carafa said he doesn't have an opinion on the legalization of marijuana, but wants his town to be prepared if -- or when -- the legislation is passed.
"We're just waiting to see the implications of what this is going to bring to our community and surrounding communities," Carafa said. "You can't isolate yourself from it. So, you want to be on target with it and moving forward and be able to have a dialogue with the community."
Governor-elect Phil Murphy, a Democrat, supported the idea to legalize recreational marijuana during his campaign, and said in an interview after he was elected that the issue was a "2018 priority."
"Obviously we want to assure that our children and residents feel safe and comfortable should these shops open in Lodi," Councilman Vincent Martin said in an email.
Democrats have already introduced a bill to legalize and tax marijuana. If passed, the state would be the ninth to legalize pot.
Once that happens, the state's hundreds of municipalities would have to weigh whether they would want a slice of the pie and allow businesses to produce and sell in their towns.
Or, they could decide to restrict the sales and forego potential conflict, but miss out on the money.
"I've been around enough time, I'm old enough and I just believe that it's coming and it's something we have to deal with," Carafa said.
The New Jersey League of Municipalities is forming a task force to look at the ramifications of legalizing marijuana.
The group could ultimately offer resources to members to assist them if marijuana were legalized, such as providing them with the correct language to use in an ordinance on regulating the location of a dispensary, Executive Director of the NJ League of Municipalities Michael Darcy said.
"The governor-elect is interested in moving this along expeditiously, so we'll have to work expeditiously as well," Darcy said. "We've got some learning to do."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: North Jersey town readying itself for when the smoke clears on legal weed? | NJ.com
Author: Sara Jerde
Contact: Contact Us information, user services and more on NJ.com | NJ.com Community -
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Website: New Jersey Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - NJ.com
