Local dispensary owner urges council to cap retail cannabis licenses at three; council asks staff to prepare ordinance options

Jessamari Billers, who identified herself as representing United River Dispensary, told the council she supports capping the city’s retail cannabis licenses at three to prevent market oversaturation and protect small local operators. “Across the state, we’ve seen municipalities become oversaturated with dispensaries,” Billers said, arguing that extra outlets split the same customers and can lead to closures and litigation.

Billers also urged the council to consider allowing cultivation and manufacturing in town so Lambertville could collect transfer taxes at multiple points in the supply chain and expand local economic benefits. “Allowing cultivation and processing alongside retail creates jobs, diversifies revenue, and strengthens our local cannabis economy,” she said.

Jeff Tittle, a local business owner, cautioned about environmental and neighborhood impacts if the city permits cultivation facilities, saying grow houses use large amounts of energy and water and can create odor and noise issues.

Council discussion that followed focused on whether to pause awarding the remaining retail license and instead amend the municipal code to limit total outlets to three. A council member said the town’s current three-operating-outlet pattern appears to match local demand and helps avoid congestion and parking complaints. Legal counsel told the council any change would require amending several sections of the city code and that staff needs time to identify where language must be changed.

The chair said there appears to be consensus to pursue limiting licenses to three but declined to commit to introducing ordinance language at the next meeting, instead asking staff and counsel to return with specific options and the sections of code that would need amendment.