SPARTA, NJ — Sparta Council has its public hearing on Tuesday night to adopt an ordinance that would prohibit any type of cannabis business operations in the township.
Like many municipalities, Sparta Township is waiting for guidance from the State of New Jersey for recreational cannabis business regulations, with the ban on businesses a way for government bodies to have more time to explore the topic.
When Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act into law on Feb. 22, he gave municipalities throughout the state until Aug. 22 to have an ordinance on the books.
The State of New Jersey provided each municipality with an ordinance template to permit or prohibit all cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers or delivery services, to operate within their borders. Once a municipality adopts an ordinance allowing recreational cannabis businesses, they are locked into their decision for five years.
“The Sparta Township Council of the Township of Sparta has determined that, due to present uncertainties regarding the potential future impacts that allowing one or more classes of cannabis business might have on New Jersey municipalities in general, and on the Township of Sparta in particular, it is at this time necessary and appropriate, and in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the Township of Sparta’s residents and members of the public who visit, travel or conduct business in the Township of Sparta, to amend the Township of Sparta’s zoning regulations to prohibit all manner of marijuana-related land use development within the geographical boundaries of the Township of Sparta,” ordinance 21-10 reads.
The township’s ordinance also states that officials received guidance from the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys, that have urged them to not adopt an ordinance permitting cannabis or medical cannabis businesses at the current time “due to the complexity and novelty of the Act,” until there’s more information available on land use questions.
However, Sparta’s ordinance clarifies that residents can have cannabis deliveries from companies outside of the township made to their homes.
The Sparta Township Council meets in person in the Municipal Building’s Council Chambers and on Zoom on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Visit the township’s website for the meeting’s agenda and Zoom link.
Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.
