South Jersey Municipal Officials Ponder Implications Of Legalized Marijuana

Ron Strider

Well-Known Member
Legal recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey could be months away, and municipal leaders across the state are beginning to wonder what effects the legalization of pot might have on their municipality.

Democratic Governor-elect Phil Murphy pledged during his campaign that he would sign legislation to legalize pot during his first 100 days in office. State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) has introduced a bill that legalizes the possession and personal use of up to an ounce of recreational marijuana for anyone over the legal age of 21.

Senate bill 3195 seeks to tax, control and legalize marijuana similar to the way alcohol is regulated.

The bill would create a Division of Marijuana Enforcement to license entities to cultivate, harvest, package and sell marijuana, and a Marijuana Regulation Review Commission to oversee its production.

The bill would also establish a graduated taxing system of 7 percent in the first year marijuana is legalized to 25 percent in the fifth year and beyond. Under the proposal there would be five classes of licenses, for growers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and transporters.

Facilities that are already distributing medical marijuana would be able to immediately apply for a license to sell to the general public.

In Atlantic County, municipal officials are starting to consider the implications of the legislation, such as weighing the potential tax revenue compared with the potential drawbacks of having marijuana sold legally in their own or neighboring towns.

In November, County Executive Dennis Levinson sent a to the county's 23 mayors suggesting that their attorneys review the bill and decide if they want to allow the sale of pot in their towns.

Levinson said it has been reported that if towns prohibit the sale of pot, they can't share in the estimated $300 million in annual state tax revenue that could be generated through the sales.

Under the bill, towns that have marijuana establishments would receive 1 percent of the tax collected in the first year, 2 percent in the second year, and 3 percent in subsequent years.

"I urge you to give this matter your thoughtful attention," Levinson wrote. "How much benefit would the additional revenue be to your residents and would that outweigh any concerns they might have about potential risks?"

Levinson said municipalities should also consider what happens in adjoining towns.

Using the Mainland area as an example, Levinson wrote, "If the towns of Somers Point and Northfield agreed to permit pot sales, while Linwood did not, Linwood would receive none of the revenues but would still be impacted by the availability of pot in those neighboring towns."

In Ventnor, officials are considering holding a ballot referendum to gauge how residents feel about allowing marijuana to be sold in the city.

At the Board of Commissioners work session Dec. 14, Mayor Beth Holtzman and Commissioner Tim Kriebel discussed proposed state legislation that would legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in New Jersey.

While neither member of the governing body disclosed their personal opinion on the issue, they agreed that the city should consider holding a nonbinding referendum to gauge public support for the proposal.

"We should think about it, research it, and develop your opinions to be ready to act if the proposed bill becomes law," solicitor Tim Maguire advised.

"The tough decision is, if Ventnor decides not to have it sold in Ventnor and Margate and Atlantic City does, Ventnor still will have the effects of people being able to buy, smoke it or eat it, and you don't get the revenue," Holtzman said.

Holtzman and Kriebel said they needed to hear more about it from the public and that they would have to research the possible effects on the community.

"You can absolutely do a nonbinding referendum to get a feel of the voting residents and what their thoughts are," Maguire said. "Some people think it's the best thing since sliced bread, while the others say 'over my dead body.'"

"Because it is so polarizing, a nonbinding referendum would be a good idea," Kriebel said.

Maguire said decriminalization of marijuana is becoming a "fact of life" in the United States.

"This is a tough one," Holtzman said.

Flowers_-_Michael_Ein.jpg


News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: South Jersey municipal officials ponder implications of legalized marijuana | News | shorenewstoday.com
Author: NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Contact: Contact Us | Site | shorenewstoday.com
Photo Credit: Michael Ein
Website: shorenewstoday.com | Your neighborhood, your news
 
Back
Top Bottom