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Public asks council to delay municipal cannabis ordinance; council introduces measure on first reading
Summary
A public speaker asked Buena Borough to table ordinance 7-84 so local cannabis businesses can review it; the council nevertheless introduced the ordinance on first reading and scheduled a later public hearing for comment.
During the public-comment portion of the April 27 meeting, John Coolin of High Grass Farms urged the council to table proposed municipal cannabis ordinance 7-84 until local operators have time to read and comment.
"I would ask you to respectfully table it, so all of us have a chance to properly read it and comment in an educated fashion," Coolin said, identifying himself and his business.
Solicitor Tennant explained the mechanics of first reading: introducing an ordinance on first reading allows public notice and a later public hearing when the council will receive testimony, may table the ordinance or vote on final adoption. "Tonight is just the first reading so that everybody in the public knows that's something that they're going to consider in the future," he said.
Despite the request to table, Mayor Joseph Ruthie moved to introduce ordinance 7-84 on first reading. The ordinance (amending code chapter regarding municipal cannabis license renewal procedures, tax reporting, enforcement and product-disclosure requirements) was introduced and passed on first reading, which triggers a public hearing at a later date when the public may comment and the council may decide whether to adopt, table or amend the measure.
Next steps: the ordinance was introduced on first reading; a future public hearing will be scheduled where the public may testify and council may vote on final adoption or table the ordinance.
