NJ marijuana legalization: Oceanport might say no to weed

OCEANPORT - While state lawmakers wrestle with legislation to legalize marijuana, Oceanport's Borough Council introduced a zoning measure to keep weed proprietors out of town.

The measure, introduced Thursday night, would prohibit businesses engaged in the growth or sale of medical or recreational marijuana from setting up in town or on Fort Monmouth, a former U.S. Army base.

The measure extends to the sale of paraphernalia connected to marijuana.

The ban would not prohibit residents from possessing medical marijuana or legal recreational marijuana.

Mayor Jay Coffey said he believed the council was acting prematurely on the issue.

"The state of New Jersey hasn't passed anything yet. I think you wait to see what the state does and then you react, but some towns are taking a preemptive strike on it," said Coffey, who will not vote on the measure unless the six-member council is tied.

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Related: Oceanport, West Long Branch to ban weed sales

The measure is getting some pushback from borough residents in favor of medical marijuana dispensaries in town. A post in a Facebook group called Unedited Oceanport Residents is asking residents to "say no" to the mayor and council's proposed marijuana ban.

"There are a couple people who spoke out against it (Thursday). None of us on council are against the use of medical marijuana," said Council President Joseph Irace.

Poll: Is support for legal weed growing? Watch as the cannabis industry tries to change the image of the weed in the video above

Irace said he voted for the measure, which will be up for a public hearing and vote on April 19, because he doesn't think stores selling legal weed is a good fit for Oceanport.

"We're a small town with a small business district. We don't have a place for it," said Irace. "We think policing it would be an issue."

Related: Cannabis users urge Middletown to back off weed ban

Oceanport joins several Shore towns that have enacted similar bans or have votes pending on ordinances that would prohibit weed shops from establishing a business in their town.

Asbury Park's city leadership said it would be in favor of licensed businesses selling weed if the state passes a legalization bill.

Dan Radel: Twitter@danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com