Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Cannabis News Daily
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cannabis News
  • Medical Marijuana
  • Legalization
  • Cannabis Business
  • Cannabis Laws
  • Cannabis Retail
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cannabis News
  • Medical Marijuana
  • Legalization
  • Cannabis Business
  • Cannabis Laws
  • Cannabis Retail
No Result
View All Result
Cannabis News Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home Cannabis Business

City Council disagrees on mayor plan

cannabisnews by cannabisnews
July 27, 2021
in Cannabis Business
0
Paterson could become North Jersey’s legal weed capital
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


PATERSON — The mayor’s plan for legalized marijuana businesses has run into criticism from City Council members calling for numerous changes, such as increasing the minimum distance between cannabis stores and homes, schools and houses of worship.

Council members said they want tighter restrictions on the number of cannabis businesses that would be allowed in Paterson, their hours of operation and their zoning status. City legislators also said the plan should increase the number of city residents the establishments must hire, impose higher penalties for violators and create additional provisions benefiting minority-owned businesses.

With the city estimating it could collect as much as $1.5 million in annual fees from the cannabis industry, council members say the proposed law ought to set aside portions of the marijuana revenue for recreation programs, the Public Works Department and property tax relief.

“I went through this paper here,” said Councilwoman Ruby Cotton, holding a copy of the mayor’s proposed ordinance during last week’s council meeting, “and there’s so much stuff here that I thought was totally, already wrong.”

Mayor Andre Sayegh said his staff would revise the proposed ordinance to address the governing body’s concerns in time for the council’s Aug. 4 meeting.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh gives a speech during the Eastside High School Class of 2021 Commencement at Bauerle Field in Paterson on 06/24/21.

But the Sayegh administration is working under a tight deadline: The state law legalizing marijuana requires municipalities to enact ordinances regulating the businesses by Aug. 21. The council needs to give the revised plan preliminary approval, conduct a public hearing on it and then take a final vote in favor of the ordinance before Aug. 21.

If Paterson doesn’t take action by then, the city would have to wait five years before it could impose any regulations on the cannabis businesses and collect taxes and fees from them, officials said.

Local:Paterson Board of Education rejects plan to search for new superintendent

‘A different kind of camp’:Paterson kids thrive in post-COVID summer programs

RELATED POSTS

Will SAFE Banking Act help?

CannaBiz: What it takes to get into the cannabis industry

The council also could opt out of the state’s cannabis program, in essence deciding it won’t allow any of the businesses to operate in the city, officials said.

The distance requirement for marijuana stores was cited as a problem by many council members during last week’s meeting. Councilman Al Abdelaziz noted that the original ordinance banned cannabis businesses from operating within 200 feet of a home, school or house of worship. Meanwhile, he pointed out, the ordinance also prohibits the retail stores from being within 800 feet from each other.

Abdelaziz called those provisions “a slap in the face,” arguing they were designed to protect the business interests more than the residents.

“It should be 800 feet across the board,” the councilman asserted.

Abdelaziz also questioned the zoning designations for the businesses, saying they would be allowed in many residential sections of the city. He said the city should designate limited cannabis districts, possibly on the outskirts of Paterson.

“We need to be strategic,” he said.

The city’s use of the revenue from the marijuana businesses looms as another hurdle. Abdelaziz said half the money should be used for something akin to homeowner rebates, Councilwoman Lilisa Mimms said 50% should be used to increase Public Works Department employees’ pay, and Councilman Alex Mendez said half should go to recreation.

Council President Maritza Davila noted that it would be mathematically impossible to earmark 50% of the income for all three initiatives.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press.

Email: editor@patersonpress.com



Source link

ShareTweetPin
cannabisnews

cannabisnews

Related Posts

Will SAFE Banking Act help?

Will SAFE Banking Act help?

by cannabisnews
March 26, 2022
0

Weed dispensaries targeted by robbers: Will SAFE Banking Act help?News Sports Entertainment Life Money Tech Travel OpinionA bill that...

CannaBiz: What it takes to get into the cannabis industry

CannaBiz: What it takes to get into the cannabis industry

by cannabisnews
March 26, 2022
0

“So we were actually, I think, the fourth people to apply for a retail license. I was very much...

Warily, Tribes Prepare for Cannabis Ventures in New Mexico | New Mexico News

Warily, Tribes Prepare for Cannabis Ventures in New Mexico | New Mexico News

by cannabisnews
March 26, 2022
0

By MORGAN LEE, Associated PressSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Two tribal communities have been reassured they'll be able to...

Pennsylvania Reverses Decision on CBD Edibles – Cannabis Business Times

Pennsylvania Reverses Decision on CBD Edibles – Cannabis Business Times

by cannabisnews
March 25, 2022
0

Pennsylvania Reverses Decision on CBD Edibles  Cannabis Business Times Source link

States wrestle with chemically made THC

States wrestle with chemically made THC

by cannabisnews
March 25, 2022
0

Over the past few years, Jonny Griffis has invested millions of dollars in his legal marijuana farm in northern...

Next Post

Schumer Proposes Federal Decriminalization Of Cannabis - Cannabis & Hemp

Part of Hudson Valley Dismisses All Weed Possession, Sale Cases

Part of Hudson Valley Dismisses All Weed Possession, Sale Cases

RECOMMENDED

Valley News – Column: Small producers deserve direct access to market

Valley News – Column: Small producers deserve direct access to market

March 26, 2022

Decriminalization: The pathway to legalization and cannabis equity | Nikki Fried – South Florida Sun Sentinel

March 26, 2022
  • 22M Fans
  • 121 Followers
  • 650 Followers
  • 23.7k Followers

MOST VIEWED

  • US Hemp and Cannabis Industry Leaders to Participate with Government at Event Celebrating New Legalization In Costa Rica

    US Hemp and Cannabis Industry Leaders to Participate with Government at Event Celebrating New Legalization In Costa Rica

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oklahoma Cannabis Pioneer Joins Forces with Budding Cannabis Brand Ganja Goat Guru

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New Jersey Begins Accepting Recreational Cannabis License Applications: When Will Dispensaries Open?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill May Receive House Floor Vote Next Week, Sources Say

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent News

Valley News – Column: Small producers deserve direct access to market

Valley News – Column: Small producers deserve direct access to market

March 26, 2022

Decriminalization: The pathway to legalization and cannabis equity | Nikki Fried – South Florida Sun Sentinel

March 26, 2022
Will SAFE Banking Act help?

Will SAFE Banking Act help?

March 26, 2022

CATEGORY

  • Cannabis Business
  • Cannabis Laws
  • Cannabis News
  • Cannabis Retail
  • Legalization
  • Medical Marijuana

Contact Us

  • Privacy & Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

© 2021 Copyright Cannabis News Daily

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cannabis News
  • Medical Marijuana
  • Legalization
  • Cannabis Business
  • Cannabis Laws
  • Cannabis Retail

© 2021 Copyright Cannabis News Daily