Montclair officials weighing two more recreational weed stores and how to spend revenue
As leaders helped cut the ribbon at Ascend's grand opening Wednesday in Montclair, they were already looking ahead to the approval process for the town's next two recreational marijuana dispensaries, and debating how the revenue should be spent.
By town ordinance, a total of three licenses for recreational weed dispensaries can be granted for the downtown business district and the commercial area on Valley Road. Wednesday, Aug. 31 was the deadline for applications. Once the next two businesses are established, the town may expand the number to allow adult-use weed sales in other locations, said Councilor Peter Yacobellis.
First, town leaders want to see how the downtown businesses, with two parking decks close by, operate. "We want to see what the impact is on the area, how many customers are coming in, before we decide to place any more," he said.
Business has been brisk since Ascend opened on Bloomfield Avenue, he said. "Even without much marketing or promotion, they did $100,000 of sales in the first week," he said. "When people are back from vacation and our parking decks are open, there's tremendous opportunity for a lot of volume of sales."
Even if the local approval process goes more quickly than it did for Ascend, the next weed dispensaries in town wouldn't open until sometime next year, since the state cannabis authority is backlogged, Yacobellis said.
More:Montclair provides latest canvas for NYC street artist Jerkface
Town leaders are also weighing what do with Montclair's portion of the profits. The township receives 2% of all sales. Yacobellis would like to see it go to the town's pre-K program, and, if there is enough revenue, to create universal pre-K.
As part of the settlement reached between Ascend and town leaders after Ascend opened briefly without a local license in June, the company has donated $75,000 to the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation and $75,000 to the Montclair Community Pre-K.
"I think the most impactful thing you can do with any tax revenue is invest in young people, to get them on a good good trajectory for their whole life. It addresses so many other issues in society," Yacobellis said.
Expanding pre-K subsidies to make it available to all Montclair 3- and 4-year-olds would also dovetail with the town's expressed goal of using the money to aid communities of color, which have been negatively impacted by the criminalization of adult-use marijuana.
“In Montclair, our goal is to create a responsible marketplace that helps level the playing field by providing ample opportunities for businesses large and small, while ensuring that the resources generated by legal adult-use marijuana sales benefit our whole community," said Mayor Sean Spiller.
More:Montclair seniors say their needs are not being met by town
Councilor Bob Russo has another idea for the money: The town's seniors which, he said, feel neglected. "I'd like to dedicate it to a senior center and staffing for programs," he aid. "The idea of a senior center has been going on for 10 years."
But, he said, he doesn't want to take anything away from young people. "Maybe young people and the seniors can split the revenue, half and half," he said.
Julia Martin is the 2021 recipient of the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists' David Carr award for her coverage of Montclair for NorthJersey.com.
For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: jmartin@gannettnj.com
Twitter: @TheWriteJulia
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ marijuana legalization: Montclair considering next two pot shops
