Allow Cannabis Businesses In Berkeley, Petition Asks

BERKELEY, NJ — A recently-launched petition is calling for Berkeley officials to repeal an ordinance banning all recreational cannabis businesses in town.

The Change.org petition, titled "Allow all cannabis businesses in Berkeley Township, NJ," has garnered more than 200 signatures in a matter of days.

Started by resident Charles Benson, the petition says that all micro cannabis business licenses should be allowed in town, including: cultivator, retailer, distributor, wholesaler, processor and delivery license.

While supporting medical marijuana, Berkeley officials have long spoken against allowing recreational marijuana in town. They said it would send the "wrong message" to children.

"Studies have shown that recreational use of marijuana leads to use of other more potent drugs," Mayor Carmen Amato said in 2018. "In my opinion, marijuana is a gateway drug. The country is currently dealing with a heroin opioid epidemic."

But the petition says that the benefits are great, providing jobs, tax revenue and more to the township. The petition says that the township will be in need of tax recovery if South Seaside Park is allowed to secede from Berkeley and join Seaside Park instead, as a judge ruled earlier this year. With it leaving, Berkeley would lose 10 percent of its taxes. Read More: South Seaside Park OK To Leave Berkeley, Court Says

The petition also cites that residents voted 59 percent in favor of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey, meaning that there is already support from residents.

While areas across the state rushed to invited marijuana businesses to their towns, the same is not true in Ocean County, where the majority of municipalities decided to ban recreational cannabis. Only Lakehurst, South Toms River and Waretown decided to allow it in varying ways - Waretown will only allow for cultivation, manufacturing and distribution, while Lakehurst is in the process of approving dispensaries.

"We need your support to deliver millions of dollars in economic opportunity annually for the citizens of Berkeley," the petition reads.