NJ marijuana legalization: Middletown gets ready for legal weed

MIDDLETOWN - The township committee is planning on introducing legislation that would prohibit marijuana-related businesses in Middletown.

The ordinance isn't intended to be voted on, however, at least not immediately.

This is a strategic move meant to strengthen the township's position should the state legalize recreational marijuana and set rules on where the associated businesses can set up shop, Committeeman Tony Fiore told the Asbury Park Press.

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Tax revenue from legal weed is a major component of how new Gov. Phil Murphy plans to pay for some of his bigger campaign promises, such as free community college.

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First, the state Legislature has to craft and pass a bill before Murphy can open up the New Jersey market to marijuana. The weed industry, which has been trying to rehab the drug's image as you can see in the video above, is looking at New Jersey as the next frontier in legal cannabis.

Committeemembers expressed concern during last week's meeting that the state would infringe on local zoning powers, such as where marijuana retail shops, processing facilities or grow operations can do business.

The committee's intention with the ordinance is to stake a claim to the ability to determine where marijuana commerce can take place within its borders.

Whether such a local law would be enforceable or even necessary depends on how the state handles the framework for legal weed — assuming such a proposal even gets out of the Legislature.

Fiore said his opposition to marijuana in town is based on "the best interests of Middletown residents and taxpayers" and he does not believe that municipalities are shaping up to be big winners.

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The committee is not interested in absorbing local costs that would come with legalized weed without new, significant revenue from the state, he said.

"Helping the state spend money in other areas while providing no real incentives to help lower property taxes in a meaningful way to Middletown taxpayers is something that I nor any of my colleagues are interested in being a party to," Fiore told the Press.

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Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com