Weehawken amends zoning law to ban local marijuana sales
Weehawken has amended its zoning to ban the commercial sale, growth, distribution, and use of marijuana in retail/commercial establishments in town, Mayor Richard Turner announced in a recent letter to residents.
Since Gov. Phil Murphy – an advocate for legalized medical marijuana – took office in January, the town has received numerous inquiries from entrepreneurs about selling marijuana there, prompting the change. Weehawken’s proximity to New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel also exacerbates the situation, he said.
“We have received inquiries to convert liquor stores, convenience stores, homes and vacant land into marijuana dispensaries (medicinal and recreational facilities) and ‘smoking lounges’ throughout the Township,” Turner wrote. “We have even had requests for large-scale growing and warehousing operations.”
In the letter, Turner did specify that “the township has not banned nor would it ban the personal use of prescribed medical marijuana or any personal use that may be passed through subsequent state legislation.”
Future amendments to the ordinance are possible, depending on state marijuana legislation, the mayor said.
And should the state legalize recreational marijuana, the amendment is a way to have strict controls already in place, Turner said.
Entrepreneurs who want to operate such establishments in town must apply for a use variance. Those variances are the toughest to acquire, Turner said. Applicants will also need to meet “stringent” requirements to receive it.
“The applicant must show to the highest standard that the proposed use will not result in substantial detriment to any neighborhood or the township as a whole,” Turner added.
On Tuesday, March 27, Murphy expanded the state’s medical marijuana program. The expansion adds more qualifying conditions for program participation and reduces patient fees. Murphy is interested in legalizing recreational marijuana eventually, but wants to expand its medical use beforehand.
Weehawken High School student wins engineering award
A Weehawken High School freshman has been granted an award by the New Jersey Society of Women Engineers at a STEM showcase sponsored by the Jersey City Medical Center RWJ Barnabas Health Corp. The ninth-grader, Misha Nair, had created a design of a microfluidic apparatus. A microfluidic apparatus contains micro-miniaturized chambers and tunnels which allow for the flow of fluids in miniscule volumes (about a quadrillionth of a liter).
The 14-year-old Weehawken resident is planning on becoming a pediatrician, and became interested in microfluidic apparatuses because they can be used to build a “lab on a chip” which in can be used to detect pathogens, as well as to conduct DNA analysis.
Hudson County Democratic Committee chooses replacement for Prieto in Assembly
Members of the Hudson County Democratic Committee representing the 32nd Legislative District voted March 28 to appoint Pedro Mejia, a Secaucus resident, to a vacancy in the State Assembly.
Assemblyman-select Mejia will be sworn-in soon and will run for the unexpired term created by the resignation of Assemblyman Vincent Prieto in the June Primary Election.
Upon taking office, Mejia will become the first Dominican-American immigrant to serve in the State Legislature.
“I would like to thank the committee members and the Democratic leaders of Hudson County for their faith and confidence in my ability to represent my new constituents,” Mejia said in a press release.
“This is a tremendous honor and I pledge to work as hard as I can to live up to it.”
Born in the Dominican Republic, Assemblyman-select Mejia immigrated to the United States at the age of 15 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000. A successful small business owner in the residential real estate industry, Mejia is married with three children and he has lived in Secaucus for the last 11 years.
