West Milford supports the cannabis industry

The local governing board at this week’s Wednesday night council meeting was expected to adopt a resolution supporting cannabis businesses in the township.

The resolution that was to be voted on noted that New Jersey will soon legalize the sale of recreational marijuana and this legalization will likely spawn a significant industry throughout the state.

The newly created industry can provide substantial financial benefits to the township and make new employment opportunities through its four sectors of growers, processors, wholesalers and retailers, the document said.

The township is in a position to benefit from all four sectors of the industry and the township council welcomes the new industry, it continued.

Passage of the resolution allows Township Administrator William Senande to take steps to promote West Milford as a welcoming location for such new businesses.

It directs him to work collaboratively with those in the industry seeking to operate as a grower, processor, wholesaler and retailer within the township.

The document also directs Senande to take necessary steps to ensure that the township’s zoning ordinance accounts for the needs of the new industry.

Last year the 210-acre Evergreen Farm on Union Valley Road applied to be one of six new medical marijuana cultivation, processing and sales operations in the state. Although the farm was not initially among the locations chosen, more are expected to be named.

The site that could become a multimillion-dollar cannabis center sometime in the future was once the location of a driving range, miniature golf course and farm store.

A proposal by Evergreen LLC to build a 30,000-square-foot greenhouse made public earlier had early support from township officials. The greenhouse would be on the five-acre portion of the farm where the driving range was located, according to initial reports.