MILLSTONE – Township Committee members have taken action to prohibit the operation of cannabis businesses in Millstone Township.
On July 21, the members of the governing body adopted an ordinance that prohibits all cannabis establishments, cultivators, distributors and delivery services from operating in Millstone.
The delivery of cannabis and/or related cannabis supplies to Millstone Township addresses by a delivery service that is based outside of the township will be permitted.
The ordinance amends the municipal code and adds cannabis establishments, distributors and delivery services as prohibited uses in all zoning districts.
The committee’s adoption of the ordinance follows the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, also known as A-21, which was passed by state legislators in February after New Jersey voters in 2020 approved a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana.
The legislation legalizes the recreational use (also known as adult use) of marijuana for certain adults, subject to state regulation; it decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana and hashish (a marijuana concentrate); and it removes marijuana as a Schedule I (high potential for abuse) drug.
According to Millstone’s ordinance, the state legislation established six marketplace classes of licensed cannabis businesses: cultivator, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, retailer and delivery service.
As noted in the ordinance, the state legislation allows municipal officials to prohibit the operation of cannabis businesses within their community’s borders.
The prohibition had to be adopted by Millstone Township officials by Aug. 22, otherwise, automatic zoning would have occurred for cannabis business for a five-year period in the municipality.
No members of the public or the Township Committee commented on the cannabis ordinance prior to its adoption.