TINTON FALLS — The members of the Borough Council have voted to amend an ordinance which includes guidelines related to cannabis businesses that may eventually operate in Tinton Falls. The amended ordinance will adjust the distance a cannabis retailer must be from school facilities.
During a meeting on Sept. 20, council members adopted an ordinance that will amend the cannabis business guidelines ordinance by changing the regulations that relate to the location of cannabis retailers.
Prior to the enactment of the amendment, a cannabis retailer was required to be at least 1,000 feet away from a school on the same side or on the opposite side of the street.
The amended ordinance will require a cannabis retailer to be at least 1,000 feet away from the property line of any property that is used for school purposes.
Borough Council President Tracy Buckley and council members Risa Clay, Dr. Lawrence Dobrin and John Manginelli voted “yes” to amend the ordinance. Councilman Michael Nesci abstained due to a conflict.
Borough Council members adopted the ordinance which establishes regulations regarding cannabis businesses in December after the enactment of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, also known as A-21. The enactment of the state law came after New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana.
A-21 established six marketplace classes of licensed cannabis businesses: cultivator, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, retailer and delivery.
Under the terms of Tinton Falls’ ordinance, cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers will only be permitted to operate in locations south of Pinebrook Road. Those types of businesses will only be permitted uses in the MFG manufacturing zone, the MFG-2 manufacturing zone and the Industrial Office Park zone.
A marijuana delivery service will not be permitted to operate in any zone in Tinton Falls, according to the ordinance.
However, in accordance with state law, the delivery of cannabis products and/or supplies to Tinton Falls addresses by a delivery service that is based outside the borough may not be prohibited by municipal officials.
The hours of operation for a cannabis retailer will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the ordinance.
Cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers will each be limited to a maximum of two businesses in Tinton Falls. According to the ordinance, the license fee for each business type will be $10,000 for the initial application, and $2,500 annually afterward.
An application package for potential cannabis businesses has not yet been made available in Tinton Falls.