Borough of Glassboro, NJ Cannabis Licensing, Registration and Business Regulations

The Borough of Glassboro is hereby designated to act as the local licensing authority for the Borough for all cannabis establishments. Under all circumstances in which state law requires communication to the Borough by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission or any other state agency with regard to the licensing of cannabis establishments by the state, or in which state law requires any review or approval by the Borough of any action taken by the state licensing authority, the exclusive authority for receiving such communications and granting such approvals shall be exercised by the Borough.

Under no circumstances shall a local license for a cannabis establishment issued by the Borough be effective until or unless the state has issued the requisite permits or licenses to operate such a facility. It is the intent of this chapter that no cannabis establishment may lawfully operate in the Borough of Glassboro without the issuance of a state permit or license and full regulatory oversight of the cannabis establishment by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission or other state licensing authority as well as oversight and issuance of a license by the Borough.

Classification of licenses. The Borough, subject to land use approval and state licensure, may issue the following municipal licenses to operate a cannabis establishment:

Class I: cannabis cultivator license.

Class II: cannabis manufacturer license.

Class III: cannabis wholesaler license.

(4)

Class IV: cannabis distributor license.

(5)

Class V: cannabis retailer license.

(6)

Class VI: cannabis delivery license.

Maximum number of licenses. The Borough may issue a maximum of two Class I licenses, two Class II licenses, two Class III licenses, two Class IV licenses, two Class V licenses, and two Class VI licenses. Licensure in all classes may be, but is not required to be, held by the same entity or individual, but an entity may not hold more than one cannabis retailer license. Any license conditionally issued by the Borough is contingent upon the locally licensed entity's or individual's subsequent receipt of a state permit or license of the same class or type of regulated cannabis activity.

Application. Persons wishing to obtain any classification of cannabis license shall file a license application with the Borough on a standardized form established by the Borough and available in the Clerk's office. An application shall be deemed incomplete, and shall not be processed by the Borough, until all documents and application fees are submitted. To be deemed complete, all applications shall be accompanied by the following:

The applicant shall submit proof that the applicant has or will have lawful possession of the premises proposed for the cannabis establishment, which proof may consist of a deed, a lease, a real estate contract contingent upon successful licensing, or a binding letter of intent by the owner of the premises indicating an intent to lease the premises to the entrant contingent upon successful licensing.

The applicant shall submit an affidavit and documentary proof of compliance with all state and local laws regarding affirmative action, antidiscrimination and fair employment practices. The applicant shall also certify under oath that they will not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations.

The location proposed for licensing by the applicant shall comply with all applicable municipal zoning laws and the location restrictions set forth in the Borough of Glassboro Code Book.

(4)

The applicant shall submit, to the satisfaction of the Borough, proof of financial capability to open and operate the marijuana establishment for which the applicant is seeking a license. Proof of financial capability can be in the form of a five-year business pro-forma, business financial statements and/or something equivalent.

(5)

The applicant shall submit all required nonrefundable fees for the application and conditional license in accordance with the following fee schedule:

(a)

Class I: $10,000 cannabis cultivator license.

(b)

Class II: $10,000 cannabis manufacturer license.

(c)

Class III: $10,000 cannabis wholesaler license.

(d)

Class IV: $10,000 cannabis distributor license.

(e)

Class V: $10,000 cannabis retailer license.

(f)

Class VI: $5,000 cannabis delivery license.

(6)

The applicant shall submit all annual registration fees required in accordance with the following fee schedule, which shall be refundable in the event the applicant does not receive a license:

(a)

Class I: $40,000 per year cannabis cultivator license.

(b)

Class II: $20,000 per year cannabis manufacturer license.

(c)

Class III: $20,000 per year cannabis wholesaler license.

(d)

Class IV: $20,000 per year cannabis distributor license.

(e)

Class V: $10,000 per year cannabis retailer license.

(f)

Class VI: $5,000 per year cannabis delivery license.

(7)

In addition to complying with any state requirement related to good character and criminal background, any person proposed to have an ownership interest in the license shall not have had any cannabis license or permit revoked for a violation affecting public safety in the State of New Jersey or a subdivision thereof within the preceding five years.

(8)

The applicant and the application shall otherwise comply with any and all qualification standards set forth in the state and Borough laws or regulations.

(9)

In the event there are multiple applicants for a license, the Borough shall evaluate all applicants and issue a notification of award after consideration and evaluation of the following criteria:

(a)

Applicant's owners' or principals' qualifications and experience operating in highly regulated industries, including cannabis, healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and retail pharmacies, with preference to experience operating such businesses within the State of New Jersey and/or another state within the United States and where the value of owners' experience shall outweigh the experience of non-owner principals (20%, not to exceed 2,500 words);

(b)

Applicant's qualifications and experience related to public safety and security, including any of the applicant's owners' or principals' experience in law enforcement and drug enforcement (5%, not to exceed 1,000 words), and a summary of the applicant's plans for storage of products and currency, physical security, video surveillance, security personnel, and visitor management (5%, not to exceed 2,500 words);

(c)

Applicant's or its owners' experience conducting or supporting or plans to conduct institutional review board approved research involving human subjects that is related to medical cannabis or substance abuse, where the value of past or ongoing clinical research with IRB approval shall outweigh plans to conduct such research (5%, not to exceed 2,500 words), whether the applicant has had any assurance accepted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicating the applicant's commitment to complying with 45 CFR Part 46 (5%), and whether the applicant has a research collaboration or partnership agreement in effect with an accredited U.S. school of medicine or osteopathic medicine with experience conducting cannabis-related research (5%);

(d)

Applicant's or its owners' demonstrated commitments or sufficient experience as responsible employers, defined as the applicant entity being a party to a labor peace agreement or the applicant entity or its parent company being a party to a collective bargaining agreement in the regulated cannabis industry for at least one year prior to application for a cannabis establishment license, in an effort to create well-paying jobs with employee benefits in the municipality (20% in total; five points for labor peace, full 20 points for collective bargaining agreement in effect for at least one year);

(e)

Summary of the applicant's environmental impact and sustainability plan (4%, not to exceed 500 words); whether the applicant entity or its parent company has any recognitions from or registrations with federal or New Jersey state environmental regulators for innovation in sustainability (3%); and whether the applicant entity or its parent company holds any certification under international standards demonstrating the applicant has an effective environmental management system or has a designated sustainability officer to conduct internal audits to assess the effective implementation of an environmental management system (3%);

(f)

Applicant's ties to the host community, demonstrated by at least one shareholder's proof of residency in the Borough for five or more years in the past 10 years or at least one shareholder's continuous ownership of a business based in the Borough for five or more years in the past 10 years (5%); and

(g)

Applicant's demonstrated commitment to diversity in its ownership composition and hiring practices and whether the applicant entity or its parent company holds any certifications as a New Jersey minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned business (20% in total; 10 points for one certification and 20 points for two or more).

(h)

Notwithstanding the foregoing competitive application process, a notification of award and conditional municipal license shall entitle the recipient applicant to pursue a state permit or license in the appropriate classification for up to 12 months, which may be extended in the Borough's discretion for an additional six months for good cause. No license to operate shall issue until the applicant has received a state permit and satisfied other prerequisites or municipal licensure. If the recipient of a notice of award and conditional license has not received a state permit or license within 12 months from issuance, unless extended for good cause, the award and conditional license shall be void.

(i)

An applicant must receive a score of at least 70 points to be considered for approval by the Borough.

(j)

The Borough reserves the right to reject any application in their sole discretion.

§ 187-4 Disciplinary actions; sanctions; violations and penalties.

Disciplinary actions. Procedures for investigation of license violations and for suspension, revocation, or other licensing sanctions as a result of any such violation shall be as follows:

First offense: up to $250 per violation per day;

Second offense: up to $500 per violation per day;

Third violation shall result in summary suspension.

Summary suspension. Notwithstanding the foregoing section, when the Borough has reasonable grounds to believe that a licensee has engaged in deliberate and willful violation of any applicable law or regulation, or that the public health, safety and/or general welfare has been jeopardized and requires emergency action, the Borough may enter a summary suspension order for the immediate suspension of such license pending further investigation.

The summary suspension order shall be in writing and shall state the reasons therefor. The licensee shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing as outlined herein.

The Borough shall convene a review panel consisting of the Administrator, a second administrative officer designated by the Mayor, and the Chief of Police. The hearing shall be scheduled within 30 days of the date of the order.