Adhere to NJ legal weed from seed to sale: Behind the scenes video

The APP took a tour by way of Verano Holdings’ cannabis cultivation center in Readington, exactly where cannabis is planted, harvested and shipped just about every day.

Brian Johnston, Asbury Park Press

FLEMINGTON – A lot of cannabis enterprises want to move to Flemington, but the areas exactly where they can set up shop could be restricted.

The Borough Council introduced an ordinance Monday that restricted the areas exactly where cannabis enterprises can open in the county seat.

If it passes just after a public hearing March 27, the shops will not be permitted to open downtown or in the Stangl Road location.

The shops will only be permitted on state highways or county roads, the ordinance says.

But Borough Administrator Michael Humphrey told the Council that he is obtaining telephone calls from cannabis enterprises, which have currently received state approval, seeking to find in Flemington and are in the “pre-leasing” stage.

He mentioned they are eying spaces, like the vacant Rite Help at Route 31 and Church Street, the former Red Crab Juicy Seafood on the Flemington Circle and the former 30 Burgers subsequent to Burger King on Route 202.

Flemington has only 4 cannabis licenses, two for health-related sales and two for recreational sales. One particular place can have each health-related and recreational sales.

Aunt Mary’s opened a health-related cannabis dispensary in the Shoppes at Flemington off the Flemington Circle in February.

For a shop to acquire state approval, a enterprise will have to acquire the endorsement of the borough.

Also see:Inside the old Walmart that is increasing, cooking and packing NJ legal weed

Also see:‘We appear corrupt’: Colleagues contact on Flemington councilman facing drug charges to resign

In November, the Council endorsed McGraw Holdings’ proposal to open a dispensary on Stangl Road, but McGraw has not received approval from the state, Humphrey mentioned.

Council Member Susan Engelhardt mentioned the Organizing Board had determined by a majority vote that the proposed ordinance was “not in the spirit” of Flemington’s master program and was “substantially inconsistent” with the master plan’s contact to encourage extra enterprise in the downtown location.

Engelhardt, who also sits on the Organizing Board with Mayor Marcia Karrow, mentioned she supported the ordinance that can be changed at any time.

For the reason that cannabis is a new enterprise, she mentioned it could be “scary” for some individuals and wanted to wait a handful of years to see the effect of cannabis enterprises in the state.

Karrow mentioned a “huge concern” prompting the proposed ordinance limiting the enterprises to highways was parking and visitors.

Downtown and Stangl Road could not have sufficient parking to deal with the visitors generated by a cannabis enterprise, she mentioned, in contrast to Aunt Mary’s which is in a buying center with sufficient parking and excellent visitors circulation.

Karrow also mentioned the ordinance can be changed “anytime we want.”

E-mail: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get limitless access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.