Morristown sets up board to oversee marijuana businesses
Morristown set up a cannabis advisory board shortly after it passed an ordinance to allow marijuana businesses within its borders.
The five-member board includes the mayor, business administrator, chief of police, director of law and council designee. Officials said there is entrepreneurial interest in the town and are working on an application process.
"There have been lots of inquiries from a lot of potential cannabis entrepreneurs that are seeking to do business in Morristown," said Jillian Barrick, town administrator.
The newly established five-member board is responsible for reviewing business applications, but council members would be responsible for granting licenses and be responsible for oversight.
Barrick said Morristown hopes to solidify a "request for proposals" process by spring to coincide with the state's cannabis license application deadline.
New Jersey requires license applicants to secure a location and town approval before filing their application with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Those looking to open a marijuana dispensary in Morristown must have a state license. Applicants awarded a local license would have up to 18 months to secure state approval.
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Town officials will allow licenses for two marijuana businesses downtown. Last month, Morristown adopted a cannabis ordinance that changed the town zoning code to allow for both recreational and medical dispensaries. Two businesses will be allowed to operate at a time around the town's core district along Morris and South streets and in the mx2 district near Martin Luther King Avenue.
The use of marijuana in public spaces will not be allowed.
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Dispensaries cannot be within 200 feet of houses of worship or 1,000 feet of any school. Parking must be provided on site, and no sampling is allowed in the business. The ordinance also limits hours of operation between 9 a.m. and 8 p,m. from Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
By state law, 2% of all dispensary sales will go to the town. In 2020, voters made New Jersey the 13th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use and Gov. Phil Murphy signed enabling legislation that allows individual towns to regulate the business within their border.
In Morristown, 77% of voters were in favor of legalizing cannabis in 2020. Across the state, two-thirds of voters approved legalization.
Jessie Gomez is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com and NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: jgomez@gannettnj.com
Twitter: @jessiereport
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morristown NJ: Marijuana businesses oversight board set up
