To blaze or not to blaze? That is the question the residents and local government of Highland Park have struggled with amid the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey following a November 2020 referendum reflecting majority support for the change. In response, the borough authorized five local businesses to sell the substance locally as of March 2022. These locations include BLKBRN, Anja Life, Herbalicity, Floro Highland Park, and Main Street Dispensary on Raritan Avenue and Woodbridge Avenue.
Borough approval is only one of the steps in the lengthy process to legally conduct marijuana sales in New Jersey. These businesses must apply for and receive licenses from New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission before they can begin operation in Highland Park. This stipulation may hold back some of these businesses, meaning that local authorization will not necessarily result in five cannabis dispensaries opening around town. Even if these stores survive the state’s vetting process and open their doors, attracting enough business to remain viable poses another threat to each of these startups.
Despite these policies, the influx of cannabis dispensaries to Highland Park piqued the interest of local high school students who are all too familiar with substance abuse issues among their peers. To discuss the topic of marijuana legalization and its relevance to the town’s teen population, Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster and Public Information Officer Harry Glazer visited the school’s Model UN and Congress club on September 21, 2023.
Many students expressed apprehension at the concept of greater marijuana circulation in the local community, asking Mr. Glazer for more information. Some were concerned about the motivations behind the borough’s decision, wondering whether the town approved these five weed dispensaries because of the sales taxes the government would receive as a result. Mr. Glazer responded by conceding that the state government made decisions to increase both revenue and social good, but there is no guarantee that new cannabis businesses will generate enough income to assure community benefits.
Mr. Glazer instead cites safety concerns as the primary driving force behind the push for legal cannabis in Highland Park. “People will use [marijuana] no matter what,” Mr. Glazer states. “We can steer it into legal avenues…That’s the goal.” In the opinion of Mr. Glazer, Mayor Foster, and many other borough officials, it is better to adapt to the growing legal marijuana market and regulate its products than leave people to tainted or laced street substances. After all, even without currently operational cannabis businesses in Highland Park, legal weed grows in neighboring towns such as Edison and New Brunswick, largely catering to young professionals and Rutgers upperclassmen. Additionally, Mayor Foster emphasized the potential for new drug policies to reduce racial inequalities and keep historically marginalized groups out of the justice system for minor drug offenses.
Despite students’ general reception to these safety and justice issues, some still worry that law enforcement is incapable of addressing the additional instances potentially posed by the growing presence of marijuana, such as driving under the influence. Mr. Glazer was quick to respond, reassuring students that Highland Police police officers are currently training in how to address incidents related to marijuana intoxication and abuse. Law enforcement must play close attention to activity surrounding dispensaries, just as they do with bars and liquor stores.
Highland Park's journey towards legal cannabis sales requires a balance between economic gains and safety concerns. The engagement of local students in this dialogue indicates a commitment to informed decision-making, but the aftereffects of the town’s dispensary approval process remain to be seen.