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By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – Following the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey, residents and visitors may have to drive to Atlantic City or to offshore communities to purchase cannabis products when they become available to the public in the next year or two.
Without comment, the Margate Board of Commissioners Thursday, June 3 introduced an ordinance to prohibit all classes of cannabis businesses in the city, including cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and retail sales of cannabis. Nothing in the ordinance prevents an outside service from delivering cannabis products to residents of the city, however.
Two of three commissioners previously said allowing cannabis sales is not the image the city wants to project to the community.
The commission also introduced a companion ordinance that prohibits the consumption of cannabis products, including the smoking or vaping of marijuana and hashish, on public property anywhere in the city or at any public events. NJ state law already prohibits smoking and vaping on the beach.
Anyone caught smoking pot in public will be subject to a fine of $100-250 for the first offense, and $500-1,000 for any subsequent offense.
On Wednesday, June 2, Longport, which only has three commercial businesses along a half-block area along Atlantic Avenue, passed its ordinance banning cannabis sales.
In May, Ventnor City introduced an ordinance opting-out of allowing cannabis businesses in the city at this time. However, the commissioners said they might consider it at a future date.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held 4 p.m. Thursday, June 17.
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