Northfield voters will be asked if they support the sale and delivery of cannabis and related products in their city when they go to the polls Nov. 8.
Even though the City Council already voted against allowing cannabis businesses late last year, residents will have a chance to express their opinion in a non-binding referendum.
The question will ask if the city should permit three licenses for the sale, and three licenses for the delivery of cannabis products. Only holders of retail licenses would be eligible to apply for delivery licenses under the plan up for consideration.
It describes allowing retail cannabis businesses along Tilton Road, starting at Deborah Street to the border with Egg Harbor Township, in an area designated by the Planning Board. Home businesses would be prohibited, along with cultivation businesses.
The proposal would also allow the city to collect a 2 percent sales tax.
State law allows cannabis to be delivered anywhere in Northfield from other communities, such as Egg Harbor Township, without Northfield collecting any revenue. So Northield’s decision not to allow cannabis sales by local businesses has no bearing on whether it can be delivered to Northfield from elsewhere.
Northfield City Council has been back and forth for more than a year on the cannabis question. For a time it looked like the city was close to moving ahead with it before it failed by a 4-3 vote. Opponents stood firm on moral grounds and the message cannabis sales sends to children. Supporters said because cannabis is here whether Northfield residents like it or not, the city should look out for taxpayers by collecting tax revenue from it.
When Northfield voted in late 2021 to reject cannabis sales it joined Brigantine, Ventnor, Margate, Longport, Linwood, Somers Point and Ocean City in the no camp. Nearby towns that have said yes to legal weed include Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Galloway and Absecon.
