WOODCLIFF LAKE —Pascack Valley’s first town to start looking into the possibility of a local cannabis business — including its potential tax revenue — is Woodcliff Lake.
A local cannabis exploratory committee — to investigate a possible cannabis business or related enterprise coming to the borough — was formed by a unanimous 6-0 vote at the May 9 Borough Council meeting held at the Tice Senior Center.
Related cannabis enterprises include a retail dispensary, as well as cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling and distribution. None of the businesses have been approved or prioritized.
[Editor’s note: Refer to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities for all the background on cannabis legalization.]
Voting to form the committee were all six Democratic council members. Republican Mayor Carlos Rendo did not attend the meeting due to a family matter and told Pascack Press that he opposes forming the committee.
The committee includes councilman Richard Schnoll and councilwoman Nicole Marsh, both Legal Committee members, Corrado Belgiovine, a former councilman and planning board vice chair, Mark Berninger, zoning and code enforcement official and Elizabeth Leheny, the borough’s planner.
Councilwoman Marsh told us, “The goal of the Cannabis Exploratory Committee is to review the current data and information regarding the impact the cannabis industry has had on local towns that have allowed for the operation of cannabis businesses. The committee will examine both the positive and negative impacts of the industry in similar towns to determine whether there is a possibility that one of the seven forms of cannabis businesses might be a potential fit for (the borough).”
Marsh noted, “As we look for new revenue streams for our town, the Mayor and Council have decided that exploring the potential benefits and disadvantages of the legal cannabis industry will either open the possibility of an alternative revenue stream or allow us to move forward knowing that we have done our due diligence to look into all potential revenue streams. Once the committee has fully reviewed the data collected we will report our findings to the Mayor and Council to determine what, if any, next steps we should take.”
Borough Administrator Tom Padilla told Pascack Press that the committee would “be looking at the pros and cons of this” and likely consulting with legal and subject matter experts on cannabis-related issues.
He said that possible local tax revenues, estimated to be significant in some towns hosting cannabis dispensaries, are one driving force behind consideration of allowing a local cannabis enterprise.
Padilla told Pascack Press that he had received “a couple calls” from interested parties who might be seeking a location. However, he stressed the committee was “only fact gathering at this stage” and it was likely to be a long process, including public meetings and comment, before any council decision on a future local cannabis enterprise.
Mayor Carlos Rendo told Pascack Press that he was “totally against it” when asked about a possible local cannabis business. Rendo said he was against marijuana legalization — approved by New Jersey voters in November 2020 — and stressed possible negative local impacts should a cannabis business be approved.
He said more tax dollars would likely be needed to hire police officers, worried about traffic concerns around the location, and likely negative impacts on youngsters and residents.
Meanwhile, the Hills Valley Coalition has written to the governing body urging it to “place the safety and reputation of our town ahead of any and all financial gains a decision like this might bring.”
Jennifer Chernow, a 17-year resident, wrote, “My main concern is that a legal marijuana dispensary will most definitely attract people who may not share the same values as the families the Coalition works so hard to protect.”
She said, “Furthermore, while I pass no judgment on adults (21-plus) who choose to exercise their legal right to purchase marijuana from such establishments, it is the possible mis-distribution after purchase that could impact our children. It is our collective responsibility to put our children’s safety over and above any financial benefit a business of this nature would bring to our town.”
She added, “Let’s be honest. No matter how many prevention/educational programs we and (the police) provide, our children will always be curious and many act on that curiosity. Historically, teenagers often find older kids or adults to purchase alcohol for them. Bringing a dispensary will undoubtedly create this same situation with marijuana, a much more dangerous drug that many label a ‘gateway’ drug.”
Rendo posted Charnow’s letter to his Facebook page.
Rendo said he wondered, “When it comes to your doorstep, do you want it here?”
Every Pascack Valley town voted to support marijuana legalization in 2020, generally by 2–1 margins or more.