How did we get here?
Was Steve Bergenfeld (then Mayor) involved?
Many residents were surprised learn that West Amwell Township Committee voted to allow unlimited cannabis in West Amwell.
Was Steve Bergenfeld involved behind the scenes? He publicly recused himself from votes on Cannabis and the Route 31 Redevelopment Zone
Read the evidence for your self and decide what you think
The Vote to Opt in
This is a video of the Township Committee passing the Cannabis Ordinance.
WATCH IT before you read another word. It is only 6 minutes.
This meeting was held on August 21, 2021 and a notice was posted in the newspaper as required by law.
There were at least 50 people in the room at that time.
Do you think they knew that the Township Committee was passing an ordinance to allow Cannabis businesses in West Amwell?
What do you think of Katrina Campbell (the attorney) helpfully explaining that the first Ordinance was not the Cannabis ordinance?
Why did she not let everyone know that the next Ordinance was the ordinance allowing unlimited factories in West Amwell?
Why did the Township Committee not hold a special meeting (like many other towns)?
Would you have liked them to send out mailer or post card like they did with the School Referendum?
This ordinance they passed that night can be seen here. It written by Chuck Latini, who also worked for the GMNJ, the applicant trying to build West Amwell's first Cannabis factory.
Note: The video starts 9:00 minutes into the meeting after the unrelated agenda items were finished. We have linked the full video if you'd like to watch.
The longer answer
When recreational cannabis was legalized in New Jersey, municipalities were given broad authority to decide whether and where cannabis businesses can operate within their municipality. They were also given authority to tax sales (up to 2%) and create a permitting process.
Municipalities were given a choice to Opt in or Opt out by August 21, 2021.
Municipalities that did nothing were automatically opted in for 5 years.
Municipalities that opted out could opt in at any time.
The deadline was tight and rules were still being written. Given the uncertainty most NJ municipalities opted out - at least initially, taking a wait and see approach.
West Amwell opted in - allowing every type of cannabis business and put no limit on the number of cultivators, manufacturers and retailers.
There was no discussion at the meeting at which the ordinance was passed, despite the fact that 50 residents had were present in opposition to the Route 31 Redevelopment Plan. The cannabis ordinance was passed at the beginning of the meeting and it is clear from the video of the meeting that many residents did not realize what was happening.
When a resident expressed opposition later in the meeting, she was told that is was too late. The ordinance had passed. When questioned then Deputy Mayor Cally stated that "they had no choice" .
Steve Bergenfeld, the then mayor recused himself from voting on both the cannabis ordinance and the Route 31 Redevelopment Plan.
Fast forward to January 2022
Green Medicine New Jersey submits an Application for Development to convert an existing church on Route 518, in a largely residential area into a 30, 000 cannabis cultivation factory.
GMNJ application and license is for medical cultivation and pre dates legalized recreational cannabis.
Residents discover that at least as far back as 2019, the Zach Rich and the Township Committee had been supporting their application and that Chuck Latini, the Planner who wrote the ordinances allowing cannabis in West Amwell was also working for GMNJ.
Read the evidence for yourself . Who is representing West Amwell? Who is profiting?