While the Mayor and Council put off the public hearing on the proposed cannabis ordinance at last night’s meeting, several local residents spoke during the routine public portion both for and against whether cannabis should be permitted in the borough.
Borough Attorney Jason Sena explained that by law the proposed ordinance, since it is a new type of business not identified in the borough in the past, had to be reviewed by the planning board to see if it in conformance with the borough’s Master Plan.
The planning board did that last week and while judging it is in conformance with the Master Plan they responded to the governing body that they would be offering recommendations to the proposed code following the next planning board meeting in August. Council had the option of either opening the public hearing at last night’s meeting as advertised or continuing it without hearing from residents until after the planning board recommendations are received.
Council chose to continue the pubic hearing without taking any comments on it last night.
However, the public is always permitted to speak during the public portion on any subject matter before the close of the meeting, and several brought up comments both in favor of and against cannabis businesses in town.
Both Zack Brown and Morgan Spicer the husband and wife team who ran unsuccessfully as independent council candidates last year, spoke in favor of permitting the businesses, citing a number of reasons why they would be beneficial. Spicer ran through a list of people she knows in various fields of work or professions who use cannabis arguing it is not a business that brings unknown persons to town.
Deborah Appello, a member of the local Board of Education and a retired teacher in New York, told council there are “too many unknowns” and cited research that shows cannabis is a gateway drug for some. She questioned the impact on property values, traffic, and an additional work load for the police department and told council she believes they are ‘rushing into” action.
The Rev. Jarlath Quinn pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes parish, who also spoke out at the planning board meeting, cited research that shows marijuana users increase violence and crime, and twice told council “this cannot be good.” He cited his own experience dealing with families of suicide victims, or with people who contemplated suicide, because of drugs .
Referring to the financial benefits to the borough, Fr. Jarlath asked what the price of such increased financial benefit would be. He noted that cigarettes have brought considerable additional income to the nation the state, the county and businesses, but noted “ but look at what that has cost so many…”
Atlantic Highlands Herald publisher Allan Dean praised the positions of Spicer and Brown and noted he should be able to go to the corner store to purchase cannabis just as he can to purchase a bottle of liquor.
