Medical Marijuana Efforts Could Move Forward In Madison

MADISON, NJ — The Madison Council has taken an important step toward the establishment of a medical marijuana dispensary in the borough.

According to the agenda for the Madison Mayor and Council meeting, the council will hold a public hearing on an ordinance to amend the previous Madison cannabis code to include a permit application.

This hearing follows a previous decision in which the planning board's recommendation on medical cannabis dispensaries was reviewed in relation to Ordinance 18-2022, which amended the Madison Borough land development code.

In addition, Ordinance 15-2022 was previously passed, which amended the borough code to include the phrase "medical cannabis dispensary." The ordinance clearly lays out the rules and requirements that future developers must follow in order to open a medical cannabis dispensary legally in Madison.

The council will decide whether to adopt legislation allowing up to two medicinal cannabis dispensaries to be built in the borough at its meeting on July 25.

Mayor Bob Conley has previously stated his support for the potential establishment of a medical cannabis dispensary. "It is a very hot topic, personally I firmly believe that medical marijuana has made a great difference in many people's lives… it controls pain related to cancer and other things. For those that need it, it is very important," Conley said.

Any future medicinal cannabis dispensary seeking a license will have to pay the borough a $40,000 annual, nonrefundable license fee, according to the ordinance.

The ordinance also states that all future establishments must be located at least 750 feet away from an existing primary or secondary school and must operate between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The Madison Police Department must also have full access to the video surveillance system, and the written security plan must be approved by the Madison Chief of Police before a permit is issued, according to the ordinance.

All members of the planning board will debate and vote on the ordinance tonight at the Mayor and Council meeting, which will be held in the Committee Room on the 2nd floor of the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building.