LOWER TOWNSHIP – Lower Township Council passed an ordinance Jan. 4, creating an overlay zone where cannabis retail and delivery operations may take place.
The ordinance, which will allow and regulate the use of a Class 5 retail license and a Class 6 delivery license in the general business (GB-1) zone, was passed without comment from the public or councilmembers.
Use of cannabis licenses will be confined to locations within the Bayshore Mall, at the intersection of Bayshore Road and Sandman Boulevard/Ferry Road.
Ordinance 2022-15, introduced Nov. 21, 2022, was scheduled for a second reading and public hearing in December, but was delayed because it was not properly advertised.
New Jersey voters passed a referendum during the 2020 general election, legalizing recreational marijuana. Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation authorizing its use in February 2021.
In June 2021, Lower Township Council authorized the issuance of two retail cannabis licenses and two cannabis delivery licenses.
