EDISON, NJ — A proposed amended ordinance that would expand the permitted locations for cannabis businesses in town will have a public hearing at a meeting of the Township Council on Wednesday.
But the council members themselves are not in full support of the changes, and residents have been circulating a petition - now with 2,700 signatures - against the change.
The amended ordinance, O.2211- 2024, was introduced at a previous meeting. It will have a public hearing and then a vote on the ordinance is expected. The meeting is Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Council Chambers.
According to a table in the amended ordinance, the following areas, with boundaries listed, would be approved for cannabis businesses:
Petitioners, however, have expressed "deep concern" about the changes in the petition that has 2,701 signatures. You can refer to the petition here.
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"We the residents of Edison are petitioning to express our growing deep concerns about the potential impact of recreational cannabis on our children's well-being and overall community health and the image of Edison for raising our children safely.
"Several studies have highlighted the adverse effects of cannabis use among individuals. The research underscores the increased risk of psychiatric disorders, including depression and suicidality, as well as detrimental impacts on academic performance and behavioral outcomes in teens who engage in casual cannabis use.
"We the residents and taxpayers of Edison kindly urge the Edison council not to pass this ordinance to keep the reputation of the town as a safe place to raise the family," the petition states.
Nisha Sawant, along with guidance from Akhil Malhotra, began the petition, said Sawant. And it was formulated based on feedback from concerns of community members, she said. Sawant said the bottom line is that petition supporters are against the proposed ordinance.
She said there are other places nearby already established, such as in Woodbridge, that can provide cannabis needs.
Councilmembers Ajay Patil and Richard Brescher voted against the ordinance at introduction.
"The residents are telling us to stop," Brescher said in a separate interview on Tuesday.
He said areas such as Woodbridge Avenue are a "typical Main Street." There are businesses but they back up to residential areas. Talmadge Road also backs up to a large townhouse complex.
He said the current boundaries permitted for cannabis businesses have not attracted applicants because the area is industrial with larger spaces for rent, while cannabis retailers might need smaller locations.
Patil said that the mayor, Sam Joshi, proposed the new zoning ordinance and had a super majority support on the council. "They spoke highly why they favored these new zones for cannabis business with the rationale of tax revenue and accessibility," Patil said.
"As a responsible elected official, I strongly oppose this zone change ordinance and removal of the 1,000-feet restriction," he said, adding the changes can "impact our great school system, increase unwarranted traffic in the town, hamper quality of life, (affect) the housing market and (have) a long-lasting impact on the communities."
According to the town ordinance, cannabis establishments are a permitted use in "the area southeast of Woodbridge Avenue between Amboy Avenue and Mill Road except for areas zoned for any class of residential use or within 1,000 feet of any area zoned for any class of residential use and as otherwise restricted in this ordinance or by state law."
Another resident, Biral Patel, writing as the District 73 Democratic County Committeeman, also made a statement to express his concern about the proposed ordinance:
"I am requesting the council to deny this ordinance and consider not allowing any single cannabis establishment in and nearby all the locations mentioned in the ordinance. Further for future purpose, I would request that, if possible and feasible, council may want to engage in a dialogue with certain residents and stakeholders before putting forward a resolution such as this which may be 'sensitive' for the community," he said in the statement that he also sent to Patch. Unrelated to this issue, he is also the Board of Education president, he said.
Under the current ordinance, "the aggregate amount of Cannabis Establishment licenses issued by the Township shall not exceed 10 licenses. Specifically, a maximum of three Class 5 Cannabis Retailer licenses may be issued; and the remaining seven licenses may be distributed among Class 1 Cannabis Cultivator, Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer, Class 3 Cannabis Wholesaler, Class 4 Cannabis Distributor, and Class 6 Cannabis Delivery licenses, with not less than one license allocated per class. You can see more on the cannabis laws here.
To read more about the establishment of the Edison cannabis rules, read this past Patch article.