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Bloomfield is refining its retail cannabis ordinances ahead of the start of legal retail sales next year.
Several amendments were introduced at the most recent Township Council meeting. The first would prohibit cannabis retailers from operating within 250 feet of another cannabis retailer. A second ordinance would allow cannabis to be sold within the commercial corridor of the Bloomfield Center Redevelopment District; the third amends the redevelopment Phase One plan to permit recreational and medical marijuana retailers.
In August. the township OKed up to six cannabis retailers to set up shop in the central business district and neighborhood business district.
Retailers are barred from the historic district. All the licenses would be for a Class 5 retailer, allowing cannabis items and related supplies to be sold to customers.
Class 5 retailers can submit applications to the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission beginning March 15, 2022. Class 1 cultivators, Class 2 manufacturers and testing laboratories can begin the application process starting Dec. 15.
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Three of the six retail stores will be micro-businesses, Mayor Michael Venezia said in August. Micro-businesses are small-scale licenses that allow mom-and-pop stores an opportunity to do business without millions of dollars in capital.
The Township Council directed the Planning Board to review the proposed amendments regarding the cannabis retailers and make any necessary recommendations.
Since April, officials in more than three dozen municipalities in Bergen and Passaic counties have introduced or adopted ordinances restricting all six classes of cannabis business: cultivator, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, retailer and deliverer.
Municipalities can levy a 1% or 2% local tax on some sales. Bloomfield’s ordinance levies a 2% tax.
Kaitlyn Kanzler covers Essex County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @KaitlynKanzler8
