Hasbrouck Heights bans marijuana sales in preemptive measure

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS — The Borough Council banned marijuana sales this week, making Hasbrouck Heights what is believed to be the first town in Bergen County to do so.

The council voted four to one Tuesday night in favor of the ban, which was adopted as a preemptive measure in anticipation that recreational marijuana will be legalized in New Jersey. It would not apply to sales of prescribed medical marijuana, which is legal in New Jersey. 

There were mixed feelings from the six residents who spoke. Some thought the move was premature and that the council should have an open mind toward marijuana, while others firmly believed it should not be in town. 

The audience included about 15 members of Boy Scout Troop 17, who were there to support a fellow member pitching an Eagle Scout project. 

Seventh-grader Henry Hahn said he didn't think the council should allow marijuana to be sold in town. He said from what he learned in school, legalizing it will give kids more access to it.

Resident Jill Ambrosini said she didn't think a marijuana dispensary would come to Hasbrouck Heights, but disagreed with the majority of the council's mentality toward it. 

"It's about being open-minded to things," she said. "If you're going to call marijuana a gateway drug then you should be saying the same thing with alcohol."

Resident Michael Sickels said he came to the meeting to support the council.

“We don’t need drugs. We need athletic fields and basketball courts,” he said. “It’s the council members' job to represent the people of the community, not Trenton politics. It’s your job to make the hard decisions and say no because you know it’s the right thing to do.”

Mayor John "Jack" DeLorenzo said he didn't believe the move was premature, as people are already starting to look for property and put plans in place to open marijuana retail stores.

DeLorenzo said that more than a third of the town is technically in a "Drug Free Zone," and allowing marijuana to be sold would send the wrong message. 

But Councilman Christopher Hillmann, who voted against the ban, said he thought the ordinance was premature and that the town could lose out on revenue from marijuana sales. He also thought that the ordinance was misleading because, he said, the exclusion for medicinal marijuana is not clear.

Gov. Phil Murphy has pledged to legalize recreational marijuana within his first 100 days in office. Proponents argue that legalization could bring in as much as $1 billion in revenue annually and help regulate use of the drug. But some municipal officials have cited quality of life issues such as odor, traffic and panhandling as reasons for banning sales.

READ MORE:Phil Murphy orders expansion of medical marijuana in New Jersey

READ MORE:Murphy’s top aide ran a small town, advocated for legal marijuana

Freeholders in Ocean and Monmouth counties have taken a stance against the legalization of recreational marijuana and asked their municipalities to join them in opposing the issue. 

The county freeholders can't legally make the decision for the municipalities. However, some municipalities in Ocean and Monmouth counties have already taken action. 

Point Pleasant Beach and Shrewsbury have banned the sale of marijuana. Berkeley Township introduced a similar ordinance.

The Ramsey Borough Council was expected to vote Wednesday on a zoning ordinance regulating where marijuana can be sold in town. The Garfield City Council, which was the first to introduce a ban in Bergen County, is expected to vote on its ordinance on Feb. 27.

Meanwhile, officials in Asbury Park and Jersey City have expressed support for allowing marijuana dispensaries in their towns.

Email: cattafi@northjersey.com