[Added 3-15-2022 by Ord. No. 66-20; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 67-37]
a. 
Each owner and operator of a cannabis business shall maintain accurate books and records, detailing all of the revenues and expenses of the business, and all of its assets and liabilities. On no less than an annual basis (at or before the time of the renewal of a cannabis business permit issued pursuant to this Chapter), or at any time upon reasonable request of the City, each cannabis business shall file a sworn statement detailing the number of sales by the cannabis business during the previous twelve-month period (or shorter period based upon the timing of the request), provided on a per-month basis. The statement shall also include gross sales for each month, and all applicable taxes paid or due to be paid.
b. 
Each owner and operator of a cannabis business shall maintain a current register of the names and the contact information (including the name, address, telephone number, and percentage of ownership) of anyone owning or holding an interest in the cannabis business, and separately of all the officers, managers, employees, and agents currently employed or otherwise engaged by the cannabis business. The register required by this paragraph shall be provided to the City Clerk or his/her designee(s) upon a reasonable request. If at any time a corporation, LLC, company, trust or other entity holds an interest in a cannabis business, the register required by this paragraph shall also include the name and contact information of a person designated as being able to answer all questions on behalf of that entity, together with the name of every person holding an interest in that cannabis business. The designated representative shall provide whatever additional information the City Clerk or his/her designee or the Police Department may reasonably request concerning the owners of that entity.
c. 
All cannabis businesses shall maintain an inventory control and reporting system as required by state law.
d. 
Subject to any restrictions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPPA") regulations, each cannabis business shall allow City of Linden officials to have access to the business' books, records, accounts, together with any other data or documents relevant to its permitted cannabis activities, for the purpose of conducting an audit or examination. Books, records, accounts, and any and all relevant data or documents will be produced no later than two (2) business days after receipt of the City's request, unless otherwise stipulated by the City.
[Added 3-15-2022 by Ord. No. 66-20; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 67-37]
a. 
A permitted cannabis business shall implement sufficient security measures to deter and prevent the unauthorized entrance into areas containing cannabis or cannabis products, and to deter and prevent the theft of cannabis or cannabis products at the cannabis business. Except as may otherwise be determined by the City, these security measures shall include compliance with all State security regulations required under the Cannabis Licensee's State cannabis license, as those regulations may be amended from time to time.
b. 
Every cannabis business and cannabis dispensary shall provide adequate security on the premises, including lighting and alarms, to ensure the safety of persons and to protect the premises from theft. As part of an application for a cannabis use, each applicant shall prepare and submit a security plan for review and approval by the Chief of Police, which approval or denial will be based upon the security standards stated above and in compliance with any security measures agreed upon with Chief of Police. Said plans shall remain updated and secured on file in the protective custody of the Construction Code Department. The information provided for purposes of this section shall be maintained by the Construction Code Department as confidential information and shall not be disclosed as public records unless pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
c. 
The City Council may impose further security requirements above and beyond the minimum-security requirements imposed by State regulations, upon the recommendation of the Business Administrator in consultation with the Director and/or Chief of Police based on the unique circumstances associated with a particular cannabis business. Except as may otherwise be determined by the City Council, these security measures shall include compliance with all State security regulations required under the Cannabis Licensee's State cannabis license, as those regulations may be amended from time to time.
d. 
A cannabis business shall identify a designated security representative/liaison to the City of Linden, who shall be reasonably available to meet with the City Police Chief, the City Fire Chief, or their designees, regarding any security related measures or and operational issues.
e. 
The cannabis business shall cooperate with the City whenever the City Police Chief, the City Fire Chief, or their designees makes a request, upon reasonable notice to the cannabis business, to inspect or audit the effectiveness of any security plan or of any other requirement of this Chapter.
f. 
A cannabis business shall notify the Chief of Police or his/her designee within twenty-four (24) hours after discovering any of the following:
1. 
Significant discrepancies identified during inventory.
2. 
Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the cannabis business or any agent or employee of the cannabis business.
3. 
The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to cannabis, registering qualifying patients, primary caregivers, or employees or agents of the cannabis business.
g. 
When more than one cannabis businesses or dispensary is located adjacent to, or in close proximity to another cannabis business or dispensary, the businesses or dispensaries may present a joint security plan to the Chief of Police for review and approval to avoid redundant activity and excess costs, provided the required level of security and effectiveness are not compromised, as determined by the Chief of Police.
[Added 3-15-2022 by Ord. No. 66-20; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 67-37]
No person shall cause or permit the sale, dispensing, or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the cannabis business. Alcoholic beverages may be consumed on the premise incident to a properly permitted event such as a grand opening or grand-opening or community event.
[Added 3-15-2022 by Ord. No. 66-20; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 67-37]
a. 
No person may commence or continue any cannabis activity in the City, without timely paying in full all fees, taxes and charges required for the operation of a cannabis activity. Fees and charges associated with the operation of a cannabis activity shall be established by Ordinance of the City Council which may be amended from time to time.
b. 
All cannabis businesses authorized to operate under this Chapter shall pay all sales, use, business and other applicable taxes, and all license, registration, and other fees required under federal, state and local law. Each cannabis business shall be required to cooperate with the City with respect to any request to audit the cannabis business' books and records for the purpose of verifying compliance with this section, including, but not limited to, a verification of the amount of taxes required to be paid during any period.
c. 
There shall be a transfer tax or user tax on the sale of any usable cannabis or cannabis products by a cannabis establishment located within the municipality pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48I-1 and the CRC Rules equal to 2% of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis cultivator or manufacturer.
[Added 3-15-2022 by Ord. No. 66-20; amended 6-21-2023 by Ord. No. 67-37]
a. 
Hours of Operation. Cannabis businesses may be open for access to the public only between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M.
b. 
Restriction on Consumption. Cannabis shall not be smoked, ingested, used, or otherwise consumed on the premises of a cannabis business or elsewhere in the City of Linden, other than within private residences.
c. 
No cannabis or cannabis products or graphics depicting cannabis or cannabis products shall be visible from the exterior of any property issued a cannabis business permit, or on any of the vehicles owned or used as part of the cannabis business. No outdoor storage of cannabis or cannabis products is permitted at any time.
d. 
Emergency Contact. Each cannabis business shall provide the City Clerk or his/her designee(s), the City's Chief of Police, and the City's Fire Chief with the name, telephone number (including mobile number) of one or more on-site employee(s) or owner(s), to whom emergency notice can be provided at any hour of the day.
e. 
Signage and Notices.
1. 
In addition to the requirements otherwise set forth in this section, business identification signage for a cannabis business shall conform to the requirements of the City of Linden Municipal Code, including, but not limited to, seeking the issuance of a City sign permit.
2. 
No signs placed on the premises of a cannabis business shall obstruct any entrance or exit to the building or any window.
3. 
Each entrance to a cannabis business shall be visibly posted with a clear and legible notice indicating that smoking, ingesting, or otherwise consuming cannabis on the premises or in the areas adjacent to the cannabis business is prohibited.
4. 
Business identification signage shall be limited to that needed for identification only and shall not contain any logos or information that identifies, advertises, or lists the services or the products offered. No cannabis business shall advertise by having a person holding a sign and advertising the business to passersby, whether such person is on the premises of the cannabis business or elsewhere including, but not limited to, the public right-of-way.
5. 
Signage shall not be directly illuminated, internally or externally, except that the name and address of the business may be illuminated at night. No banners, flags, billboards or other prohibited signs may be used at any time.
f. 
Minors.
1. 
Persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall not be allowed on the premises of a cannabis business and shall not be allowed to serve as a driver for a mobile delivery service. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Chapter for any person to employ any person at a cannabis business who is not at least twenty-one (21) years of age.
2. 
The entrance to the cannabis business shall be clearly and legibly posted with a notice that no person under the age of twenty-one (21) years of age is permitted to enter upon the premises of the cannabis business.
g. 
Odor Control. Odor control devices and techniques shall be incorporated in all cannabis businesses to ensure that odors from cannabis are not detectable off-site. Cannabis businesses shall provide a sufficient odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust system so that odor generated inside the cannabis business that is distinctive to its operation is not detected outside of the facility, anywhere on adjacent property or public rights-of-way, on or about the exterior or interior common area walkways, hallways, breezeways, foyers, lobby areas, or any other areas available for use by common tenants or the visiting public, or within any other unit located inside the same building as the cannabis business. As such, cannabis businesses must install and maintain the following equipment, or any other equipment which the City Administrator or his/her designee(s) determine is a more effective method or technology:
1. 
An exhaust air filtration system with odor control that prevents internal odors from being emitted externally;
2. 
An air system that creates negative air pressure between the cannabis business' interior and exterior, so that the odors generated inside the cannabis business are not detectable on the outside of the cannabis business.
h. 
Display of Permit. The original copy of the cannabis business permit issued by the City pursuant to this Chapter shall be posted inside the cannabis business in a location readily visible to the public.
i. 
Permits and other Approvals. Prior to the establishment of any cannabis business or the operation of any such business, the person intending to establish a cannabis business must first obtain all applicable planning, zoning, building, and other applicable permits from the relevant governmental agency which may be applicable to the zoning district in which such cannabis business intends to establish and to operate.