Backlash To Cannabis Ordinance Prompts Change In Madison

MADISON, NJ — Although a medical cannabis dispensary application was recently denied, Madison residents urged the council to take more drastic measures to ensure that no dispensaries ever opened in the borough.

The council officially introduced three new cannabis ordinances on Monday, Jan. 9, which, if passed, would effectively repeal the council's previous allowance of medicinal cannabis.

Talk of repealing the current ordinances first came up last month after the council had to decide whether to grant 1st Choice Health & Wellness, LLC a dispensary license, allowing them to open a medical dispensary.

Following dozens of public complaints and a statement from Jim Burnet, the chief financial officer, who concluded that the dispensary couldn't run a profitable, solely medical operation, the council ultimately rejected the venture.

At the end of the meeting, two residents addressed the council, requesting that the Madison Borough ordinance allowing for medicinal cannabis use be repealed in the new year.

On Monday, during the public hearing portion of the meeting and prior to a council vote, a representative from the Madison Residents Coalition spoke about a petition with over 900 signatures opposing any cannabis dispensary in Madison.

"We are committed to reversing these ordinances so that no other applicants or any other cannabis sites become available in Madison at any time in the future," Sue Heffernan said.

The coalition, which started a petition on the website Change.org, received a total of 952 signatures all against the development of cannabis dispensaries within the borough.

"The residents of Madison need to take strong action now to communicate that we are not comfortable with locating such dispensaries near our schools, playgrounds, and residential neighborhoods," the petition said.

The council unanimously approved the first reading of all three ordinances, with a public hearing scheduled for Jan. 23.

"Unfortunately there are times when things get done in the borough and the communities not paying attention, and they don't always have to, but I want to comment that I was very impressed with the resident's participation this time to come out and speak," council member Thomas Haralampoudis said.