PETERSBURG — Township Committee has moved ahead with plans to allow a retail cannabis dispensary following discussion Dec. 15.
Mayor Curtis Corson said an amendment to the township’s cannabis ordinance is expected to be on the agenda Jan. 12, with a public hearing and final vote slated for Jan. 26.
Corson has said the amendment would allow one retail dispensary, noting the township could use the tax revenue to offset rising costs across the board. The township can enact a 2 percent tax on retail sales.
The location remains to be determined and was expected to be discussed during a closed session the same evening.
“There are a couple of different commercial zones that I think are being kicked around,” solicitor John Amenhauser said. “That’s part of what we want to figure out when we’re (in closed session) tonight is exactly what the location is that we would put it in.”
Corson said he was a hard no when discussions began Oct. 14, when Township Committee authorized legal counsel to review the cannabis ordinance and possible revenue opportunities.
“Ethically it goes against everything I was ever taught. My moral compass is whacked because of this,” he said. “I’m not in favor of it but it is in our community. It was in our community when we all went to school. We all grew up with it in high schools, colleges; to pretend it’s not here is crazy.”
Corson said as it stands, the product is being “delivered into our community from neighboring communities and we’re missing the revenue stream.”
The mayor said he wants a discreet business, nothing with giant marijuana leaves or neon signs. Amenhauser noted Coastline Dispensary in Cape May Court House fits the model of what the township is looking for — simple signage without an obvious cannabis connection.
“If you don’t look up and see ‘dispensary’ and put two and two together, I don’t think you would know what it is, to be quite honest,” he said.
Corson also said he wants any delivery vehicles to be nondescript as well, bearing only the necessary identifiers but no signage or advertising.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen went a step further, saying he wants the business name to be discreet as well and not a play on words.
“I don’t want to see plays on words such as flowers or buds or anything like that,” he said.
Amenhauser said the township has complete control over the issuance of a license but not necessarily the name.
He said the township would need to amend three ordinances and issue one resolution to allow the dispensary to operate. One ordinance would permit the use while a second would create an annual license with a fee and the third would enact the tax on sales.
Amenhauser said the township would collect the tax in the form of a monthly check from the dispensary, estimating the township could collect a substantial amount per month.
“What we do with it is up to you,” he said.
Corson said he wants the revenue earmarked for specific purposes, with a third going to recreation capital costs, another third to beach maintenance and replenishment and the final third to the general fund.
“That would help us tremendously when budgeting,” he said. “That would give us a more stable funding source.”
Committeeman Zach Palombo said that would provide the public with information on where the money is being spent.
Finally, the resolution would support the potential licensee before the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The licensing fee was also to be discussed during closed session.
Allowable hours of operation will mirror liquor stores, which operate from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.