Cannabis: Vinelanders can 'toke' it or leave it

VINELAND – Do you want marijuana growing and dispensary operations to plant their roots in Vineland?

That's the question city officials will be asking voters in a referendum in November. The results will not bind the city to act one way or the other.

More:Here's what a marijuana grow company thinks it can do for South Jersey

More:Bridgeton to ask voter input on marijuana businesses in town

The question on the ballot will read: "Shall the City of Vineland permit the siting of medical marijuana cultivation and dispensary alternative treatment centers within the geographic boundaries of Vineland?"

The measure was approved unanimously and without debate at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night.

The move to act now is a new state government push to open six more medical marijuana dispensaries across New Jersey. Would-be operators need to meet many qualifications, like demonstrating a likelihood they could get permission to open shop somewhere, and submit a lengthy application by the end of August.

City Solicitor Richard Tonetta, who drafted the measure, and council President Paul Spinelli said Vineland has had contacts from potential operators and has learned that others have been acquiring rights to potential sites.

"We talked about it," Tonetta said. "And we said: 'It's all good — medical marijuana. We all think it's a wonderful thing. But let's see what the public sense is."

Tonetta said he thinks the state would prefer municipalities to take the referendum route.

"We weren’t really going to have five people decide if we have a marijuana dispensary for medical marijuana,” Spinelli said Wednesday, referring to the council. “We get the fact that there are positive purposes for medical marijuana. But we just felt we’d rather get the public opinion because opinion on this tends to be strong one way or the other."

Tonetta said the cannabis industry would not be that important economically if it were to take root and grow in Vineland. It might even be a net drain on city services, he said.

"The only real benefit to any municipality is it's like a business," Tonetta said. "You get some jobs and you get some tax ratables."

More than 25,000 patients now participate in New Jersey's medical marijuana program, according to the latest state health department statistics.

Vineland isn't the only Cumberland County community dealing with marijuana policy questions:

• The Millville Planning Board this week gave its informal blessing to an informal plan for a medical marijuana growing operation on North 10th Street that could employ 60 people.
• Bridgeton voters in November will weigh in on a nonbinding referendum from City Council asking if they would support marijuana retail facilities, including cultivation and distribution facilities, in the city's limits. Unlike the Vineland referendum, Bridgeton's question isn't limited to medical marijuana.

Joseph P. Smith; jpsmith_dj; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com

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