BRICK – A cannabis retailer could be coming to Brick since all but one council member voted in favor of introducing an ordinance at the most recent council meeting.
Council Vice President Derrick T. Ambrosino said the new ordinance was the result of multiple discussions between the township’s Business and Finance Committee and the Land Use Committee.
The cannabis license would generate revenue for Brick, Ambrosino said. A local 2 per cent cannabis tax would be paid directly to the township into a dedicated account to be used to offset any amounts to be raised through taxation.
“We actually anticipate that an amount of upwards of $200,000 per year could be expected from this tax,” he said.
The details of the ordinance allow for just one license for a Class 5 cannabis retailer to operate within the township, for which they would pay $10,000, with a yearly renewal cost of $5,000, he said.
The proposed ordinance establishes licensing and tax requirements and it amends the zoning to establish a limited set of approved locations in the Business and Hospital Support Zones.
“There are some rules and guidelines that are being set,” Ambrosino said. “The first is that the approved retailer must be at least 1,000 feet from all schools, daycare centers and houses of worship, and they must also be 300 feet at least from any residential zone.”
Also, the onsite use of cannabis, which includes transferring it from its original packaging by anyone, is prohibited in the building or on the premises, or inside any vehicle.
No one under the age of 21 would be allowed in the building, nor would they be allowed to have someone purchase marijuana products on their behalf. Alcohol and tobacco would not be allowed in the building. Hours of operation would be limited to 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
“We have required that there’s one licensed armed security guard at the facility, and security cameras must cover all exterior parking and loading areas as well as all points of entry, and the interior spaces that are open to the public,” Ambrosino said. The recordings must be maintained for 40 days, he added.
An approved safe for storage of cash is required, as well as an alarm system, he said.
The township can revoke the license if any of these requirements are not met, at any time, Ambrosino said.
The lone dissenting vote from the governing body came from Councilman Greg Cohen who said he had several objections, including supporting an ordinance “that openly disregards federal prohibition of recreational cannabis.”
His fellow Republican on council, Lisa Reina, noted that the position of the federal government is that cannabis decisions “should be made by individual state legislators and voters and not the federal government.”
An ordinance needs to be read twice. The first time, it is introduced. The second time, the public is allotted time to speak about it. If it passes then, it goes into effect 20 days later. Usually the second reading is held at the next meeting.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m.
New Council Member
In other news, Democrat Daniel Ward was appointed to fill the unexpired council seat of Vince Minichino, who resigned effective September 29 for personal reasons.
The 3 to 3 vote from the governing body for Ward’s appointment followed party lines, with Mayor Lisa Crate breaking the tie to vote for Ward.
Ward, who teaches chemistry at Ocean County College, has served on the Planning Board and ran unsuccessfully for council in 2025. Ward will serve until December 31, 2027, which would have been the remainder of Minichino’s term.
Three candidates were presented for the council’s consideration, including former Councilwoman Susan Lydecker and Nancy Ellson, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Board of Education.
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