Cannabis Information & Resources

Contact:

Township Manager's Office

Location:  Verona Town Hall, 600 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ 07044
Hours:  8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Friday
Contact:  (973) 857-4767

This page was created to help inform the residents of Verona on the State of New Jersey's current Cannabis laws and updates as well as Verona's current ordinance and associated information.

Cannabis Legalization & Background:
Governor Murphy signed the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act into law, legalizing and regulating cannabis use and possession for adults 21 years and older and decriminalizing marijuana and hashish possession, A-1897 (P.L.2021,c.19).

The Governor also signed S-3454 (P.L.2021,c.25), clarifying marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for individuals younger than 21 years old.

Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission seeks to establish and grow a responsible, regulated medicinal and recreational cannabis industry. By applying the values of safety and equity, the Commission will center its work around creating and protecting access for patients, the production of safe products, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry to develop a national model for sensible, fair oversight.
The Commission is committed to transparency and the public good. The agency operates under a Code of Ethics beyond the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law, the New Jersey Uniform Ethics Code, and the medicinal and adult-use cannabis statutes.

CRC Resources:
Visit the CRC website for additional information here: https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/

Office of the Attorney General:

Marijuana Laws:

  • Cannabis legalization (P.L.2021, c.16). (Feb. 22, 2021) Titled as the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement, Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act, this law legalizes regulatory cannabis. (A21)
  • Marijuana decriminalization (P.L.2021, c.19). (Feb. 22, 2021) This law decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana and hashish and establishes new, more lenient penalties for the distribution of these substances. (A1897)
  • Other clarifying provisions (P.L.2021, c.25). (Feb. 22, 2021) This law clarifies certain provisions regarding marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for individuals younger than 21 years old. (S3454)
  • Additional clarifying provisions (P.L. 2021, c.38). (Mar. 26, 2021) This law revises certain provisions concerning parental notification of juveniles found to be using or possessing alcohol, marijuana, hashish or cannabis, as well as amending certain other provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-15. (A5472)

Visit the main page here: https://www.njoag.gov/marijuana/

New Jersey State League of Municipalities:

Background:

  • Opt-In or Opt-Out Timeline: Municipalities had 180 days (until August 21, 2021) to take action to either prohibit or limit the number of cannabis establishments, distributors, or delivery services; the location, manner, and times of operation, and establishing civil penalties for violation of ordinances.
  • Existing Ordinances: Any existing municipal ordinances regulating or prohibiting cannabis are null and void. They must be readopted to be effective.
  • No Action Result: If municipalities do not take action within 180 days, any class of cannabis establishment or distributor will be permitted to operate in the municipality, and depending on the type of establishment, be considered a permitted use in certain zones.
  • 5-Year Periods: A municipality that fails to enact an ordinance prohibiting the operation of one or more classes of cannabis establishments, before August 21, 2021, is precluded from passing an ordinance banning the operation for a period of 5 years. After this 5-year period, a municipality has another 180-day window to prohibit or limit cannabis operations, but this action only applies prospectively. Those who initially opt-out can opt-in at any time.
  • Local Cannabis Tax: Municipalities can enact by ordinance a local cannabis tax that cannot exceed 2% for cannabis cultivator, manufacturer, and/or retailer; and 1% for wholesalers. The tax percentage is based on the receipts for each sale and is paid directly to the municipality in the manner prescribed by the municipality. Any delinquencies are treated the same as delinquent property taxes. The tax cannot apply to delivery services to consumers or transfers for the purpose of bulk transportation.
  • Delivery Rights: A municipality cannot prohibit the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service within their jurisdiction.
  • Civil Rights: When responding to a call related to underage consumption or possession of cannabis or alcohol can be guilty of a crime of official deprivation of civil rights if knowingly violating the provisions of the new law regarding interactions with underage persons. 

The NJLM has developed a detailed site with information here: https://www.njlm.org/969/Cannabis-Legalization

Township of Verona Information:

The Township of Verona currently has Ordinance 2021-15 in place, which prohibits the operation of any class of cannabis business within its geographical boundaries. 

It states,

"NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by The Township Council of the Township of Verona, in the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, as follows: 

SECTION 1. Pursuant to section 31b of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (P.L. 2021, c. 16), all cannabis establishments, cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services are hereby prohibited from operating anywhere in Township of Verona, except for the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service.  

SECTION 2. § 150-4.3 (Prohibited uses in all zone districts in the Township of Verona) of the Code of the Township of Verona is hereby amended by adding to the list of prohibited uses, the following: “All classes of cannabis establishments or cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services as said terms are defined in section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16, but not the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service.”

You can read the full background and ordinance here.

Zoning:

Presentations & Additional Resources:

More information will be posted here as it becomes available.