Lacey Voters To Decide Whether Marijuana Should Be Sold In Town

LACEY, NJ — In just two weeks, Lacey voters will head to the polls and cast votes for governor, township committee and school board. This year’s ballot also features a referendum question about whether marijuana should be sold and cultivated in Lacey Township.

Though 64 percent of Lacey residents who voted — 10,744 people — were in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults last November, the township has had spirited conversations over whether it should be sold in town.

Township officials approved an ordinance earlier this year banning the sale and cultivation of cannabis. Under the state law, towns that did not pass an ordinance by Aug. 22 would be barred from banning the retail sale of recreational marijuana for five years.

Though towns must wait five years to ban marijuana businesses, they can choose to allow them at any time, officials said.

Committeemen Mark Dykoff and Timothy McDonald proposed putting a referendum question on the local ballot in November to poll residents' opinion on the issue.

According to the ballot, the referendum question reads, “Shall the Township of Lacey permit recreational cannabis operations (cultivation, processing, wholesale, distribution, retail and delivery services) within the Township?”

The interpretative statement goes on to say, “If the referendum question passes, Lacey Township may amend its Township Code to permit recreational cannabis operations to the extent allowed under State Law.”

The referendum does not impact medical marijuana operations, which the township passed an ordinance to permit in 2019.

Mayor Peter Curatolo has criticized the state's legislation, citing safety and health concerns for the town's minors. He has noted that residents will be able to buy recreational marijuana legally in other towns that have allowed it, such as South Toms River and Lakehurst.

"I would support putting a prohibition ordinance for recreational marijuana in our town. I would rather have somebody purchase it somewhere else," Curatolo said earlier this year.

Several community members and residents expressed concerns related to the sale of recreational marijuana during previous meetings, including Police Chief Michael DiBella, school board members and residents.

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