Hoboken City Council Passes Resolution Urging Hudson County’s State Representatives to Advocate for More Revenue from Cannabis

HOBOKEN, N.J. — On Wednesday night, the Hoboken City Council approved a resolution urging Governor Murphy and State Legislators to allow certain municipalities the flexibility to generate additional local tax revenue from the sale of cannabis to cover anticipated increased costs for public safety and welfare, social justice, and education. As part of the resolution, which passed unanimously, the City Council is requesting that Hudson County municipalities that are most accessible to New York City be permitted to generate sufficient revenue, above the 2% local tax rate included in the proposed legislation being voted on by the State Legislature today, to cover additional expenses anticipated by the expected influx of New York City visitors coming to New Jersey to purchase and consume cannabis.

“In Hudson County as a whole and Hoboken specifically, we anticipate needing additional community resources associated with legal cannabis sales because of our proximity to New York City, where adult use marijuana is not yet legal,” said Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher and Councilman Michael DeFusco. “Hoboken and other Hudson County municipalities will generate the largest percentage of state tax revenue from cannabis sales and with that comes additional quality of life, public safety and social justice concerns that we should seek direct relief for.”

The Hoboken Councilmembers went on to say, “We appreciate that the proposed state legislation attempts to provide some local relief so taxpayers won’t have to shoulder the costs relating to the sale and consumption of marijuana, however, it doesn’t go far enough for some areas. We invite our neighboring local governments to join us in calling on all Hudson County legislators to advocate for more for the cities which are uniquely affected.”

Allowing Hoboken and other nearby Hudson County municipalities to generate additional local revenues would better equip these local economies to address quality of life and social justice causes.

A copy of the resolution can be found here and will be sent to Governor Phil Murphy, Hoboken’s State Representatives: State Senator and Union City Mayor, Brian Stack, State Assembly members Annette Chapparo and Raj Mukherji, Hoboken Freeholder Anthony Romano, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante, Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Chief Thomas Molta, Hoboken Fire Chief Brian Crimmins, S-21 Sponsors: State Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and State Senator Nicholas Scutari, A-21 Sponsors: State Assembly members Annette Quijano, Jamel Holley, Britnee Timberlake, Angela McKnight, Joe Danielsen, and Benjie Wimberly, State Senator and North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, Harrison Mayor James Fife and all members of the Jersey City and Weehawken City Councils.