About three dozen residents turned out for a special workshop meeting at Borough Hall Tuesday night when a series of experts in the fields of medicine, cannabis and pharmaceuticals gave a series of positive results should a cannabis business be approved in Atlantic Highlands.
Borough Attorney Peg Schaefer, herself recognized as an expert in the field, was part of the panel and explained some of the confusion in the state legislation which permits, under specific regulations and laws, municipalities to pass their own laws for cultural, manufacturing or retail licenses.
The attorney explained she takes no position on whatever the borough decides, but pointed out it has great control over all aspects of any cannabis business, including where it could be located, the hours it could be open and what safety regulations would have to be followed by those in the business.
Leading expert in the panel was Hugh O’Beirne, president of the New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association, a non-profit agency working for the legalization of cannabis in New Jersey, and an attorney who has dealt in corporate and securities law as well as real estate investment trusts.
O’Beirne is co-founder of Hawthorne Avenue Strategies, a consulting firm on the business goals for US operations and has done policy work in several states. The attorney holds his master’s degree from Boston College and his doctorate from Vanderbilt University.
The attorney reviewed the history of adult use cannabis regarding the regulations imposed by states without federal regulations on the industry and noted its benefits in a variety of medical programs.
Like Schaefer, he stressed the fact the municipality holds great control, under the newly enacted laws in New Jersey, in governing any cannabis business within its limits, and as such can ensure safety and community harmony. He cited cases from his own experience where cannabis has been the medicine of choice and success in controlling a number of different diseases.
Schaefer added that as attorney, she would not advocate which actions the borough should take in either approving specific types of cannabis business or denying any or all within her borough but cited the many financial benefits resulting from additional taxes for the borough. The attorney also noted that the laws do not allow for the borough to restrain any deliveries to persons within the borough from cannabis businesses approved in other municipalities.
Luke Lieberman of Brick was another of the panelists who spoke at the meeting. The General Manager of NJ Leaf, a cannabis dispensary on Park Avenue in Freehold, Lieberman cited how cannabis regulations are strict in controlling the quality of products and adult use of cannabis from approved sources ensures it is dispensed safely.
Panel members explained the difference between the variety of hemp or cannabis containing subjects currently available including the variety of forms from pills and liquids to chocolate and gummies, and how approved dispensaries would be more beneficial for health and safety reasons.
Jay Dhaduk or Parsippany is a New York licensed pharmacist and founder of Legacy Pharmacy, a chain of pharmacies that offer cannabis sales. He is also a patient education chair at Bayshore Senior Center and instructs on ways to stem the opioid crisis and addiction through better education of all products.
Panelists responded to questions from the residents concerning how businesses would be run should a retail shop be approved for the borough, highlighting the borough could mandate whatever type of security it felt necessary, from armed guards to concealed weapons carriers ; every adult potential purchaser would have to show proper identification in order to enter the store and would have a choice of either seeking out the product they wanted, or seeking the assistance of the trained and professional employees to guide them. Because of complaints in other areas about long lines waiting for access to a retail business, it is necessary at the start of a new business for customers to have appointments in order to be at the shop.
Stores would also have to meet esthetic requirements for exterior appearance according to borough regulations and would be restricted to the specific business district any borough ordinance would allow.
Panelists in a variety of ways showed how a regulated and licensed retail business whose owner has been thoroughly investigated and approved, and whose employees have also undergone stringent investigations and background checks would cut down on deaths from illegal drugs while at the same time bringing in thousands of dollars to offset borough taxes or be set aside for specific purposes.
Councilwoman Eileen Cusick, the borough representative on the Cannabis Committee former earlier this year, put the meeting together in order to provide more information should borough council choose to introduce a cannabis business ordinance. Mayor Lori Hohenleitner opened the meeting, explained its purpose and introduced all the panelists together with asking them specific questions. Cusick delivered hand-written questions from the audience to Hohenleitner who then read them to the panelists for their response.
This is the only workshop of this type unless an ordinance is introduced, Hohenleitner said after the meeting. Should an ordinance be introduced, the public would have another opportunity to ask questions during the public hearing held for every proposed ordinance before its approval.
