Maplewood Mayor Nancy Adams opened a conversation with the Township Committee on May 20 about whether or not the township should allow cannabis lounges.
“I want to speak clearly about an issue that is both timely and important: the responsible introduction of cannabis consumption lounges in our municipality and across the state of New Jersey,” Adams began.
Statewide rules regulating cannabis consumption lounges in New Jersey were approved in 2024; these rules did not exist when Maplewood passed an ordinance allowing for cannabis businesses in 2022 and subsequently updated its municipal code to allow for one Class 1 cultivator license; one Class 2 manufacturer license; one Class 3 wholesaler license; one Class 4 distributor license; four Class 5 retailer licenses; and five Class 6 delivery licenses — but no cannabis consumption lounge licenses.
To be clear: the township has yet to even draft an ordinance on lounges. TC members stressed that the conversation was very preliminary, and a majority of TC members appear to be against allowing such lounges at this time.
“Let me start with this fundamental principle: legal cannabis should come with legal, safe, and regulated places for consumption,” said Adams. “Just as we regulate where alcohol is consumed, we must offer adults safe and supervised spaces to consume cannabis. Without consumption lounges, we risk pushing cannabis use into public parks, sidewalks, or cars—none of which is safe, equitable, or consistent with public health goals.”
The mayor continued, “Cannabis lounges provide a clear path for responsible regulation. They help us reduce unregulated public consumption, including in areas where children or vulnerable populations gather, prevent impaired driving by encouraging walking and rideshare use … and ensure ID checks and age verification, which are not always enforced in informal or private consumption settings.”
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Adams also stated that there are equity and social justice issues at play: “The cannabis industry in New Jersey was legalized with a promise: to correct the injustices of the failed war on drugs. But equity is more than a license—it’s about access to opportunity and participation in every part of the industry, including consumption. Lounges offer opportunities for local entrepreneurs—especially those from communities most harmed by past cannabis enforcement—to build thriving, community-based businesses. This is our chance to get it right by creating safe, inclusive, and culturally relevant spaces where people can gather, socialize, and support small businesses.”
She also cited economic development: “Cannabis lounges are also an engine for local economic growth. They create good jobs, attract visitors, and complement existing businesses—whether it’s restaurants, music venues like the Woodland, or art galleries. By regulating lounges at the local level, we maintain control over hours, zoning, and community fit—while unlocking new streams of municipal revenue through fees and taxes.”
“Let’s be clear: our residents voted for legalization.,” said Adams. “Now, it’s our responsibility to implement it in a way that aligns with our values—responsibility, safety, equity, and economic opportunity.”
See Adams’ full statement below.
In the discussion that followed, three of the five Township Committee members said they did not support lounges at this time — but were willing to hear feedback from the community.
TC member Dean Dafis was the other member of the governing body to voice outright support the lounges.
“Just to underscore what you said in terms of this, if we were to do something like this in our town, it would only apply to the micro businesses and reminding everyone that the state regulates these things,” said Dafis. “And they have very strict regulations as they relate to odor mitigation and the consumption of cannabis within those micro businesses. Those regulations are some of the strongest regulations.”
He added, “I think in terms of equity and access, you’re so right when you say we don’t want to unintentionally push cannabis use, and we’re always talking about adult use here, right? 21 and over with proof of ID and all that good stuff, … And we hear often that there are neighbor to neighbor complaints. Even when someone is consuming in the privacy of their own home … and the odor bothers people. There are people who have children at home who cannot do so at home. And then 23 to 25% of our residents are renters. And with most leases, you’re prohibited from smoking altogether, including, and especially cannabis. And if you are a renter of low income renter on a subsidy… you are committing a federal crime if you consume legalized cannabis in New Jersey in your housing unit, and you can lose your subsidy and go to federal prison on top of that. So providing an opportunity for the safe and regulated consumption in a micro business under all of the regulations, I think, is reasonable.”
TC member Deb Engel was adamantly opposed.
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“I’m concerned that we have no education campaign out there about the effects of cannabis on our youth,” said Engel. “And I hear what you’re saying, 21 and up plus. But we talk about it as recreational. We don’t talk about it as adult youth. … We have no education out there. Kids are watching their parents. …. Our old public nurse gave a great presentation at Municipal Alliance about the effects on children’s brains up to the age of 25. And we’re not talking about it. We have a huge problem with vaping in our high school right now. And vaping, cigarettes, nicotine, cannabis, it’s all the same. … Addiction’s on the rise. Mental health issues are on the rise. Cannabis use is on the rise. Drinking’s on the down. And this really 100% concerns me.”
“I’m a no,” said TC member Vic DeLuca.
“When we did the ordinance, the question came up, whether we should put [lounges] in there or not, make it permissible or not, we made it explicitly not permit permitted,” DeLuca said. “To me, it’s more synonymous with a retail liquor store than a bar. So at a retail liquor store, you go in and you buy that, you take it out, you’re not allowed to consume it on premise. You take it, you’re not allowed to consume it as you’re driving. You’re not allowed to consume it on in parks. You’re not allowed to consume it on streets. You take it for private use. At least for me, that’s how I defined when I spoke to the community about the dispensaries.”
DeLuca said that he felt he made a commitment that he would “not support lounges or use, whether it’s smoking or other kinds of consumption, in the facilities. I just think that I have to be consistent and not support it now.”
Deputy Mayor Malia Herman appeared to represent a potential swing vote.
“This conversation is very helpful, and you’re right that this is an evolving issue,” said Herman. “As I have said previously in committee meetings, I am currently ‘no lounges.’ … I’m concerned about having a cannabis lounge located within walking distance to school buildings. I’m one of two members on this committee who have young children currently in our school system, kids in middle school and high school … as such, I know that when MMS gets out in the afternoon, tons of young students swarm into Maplewood Village, and I’m concerned about children being in close proximity to people exiting a lounge. I’m worried about the lounge being open while we have town events like the Halloween Parade and the Art Walk.”
Herman continued, “I’m concerned about the message that sends to our children, especially teenagers who are just starting to come into contact with these substances.” Like Engel, Herman said that she didn’t see a public health campaign related to cannabis use. “I think that’s really necessary.”
“I think that these are things that we need to look at and address before we move forward with something like this. I’d like to know which other towns might have cannabis lounges happening, how they’re operating and see how it’s going. I know Maplewood likes to be first in a lot of things. …
“Newark is first on this,” Adams interjected.
The TC members debated the issue for several more minutes, agreeing about more education and also agreeing to keep the conversation going.
“I think this is a good discussion,” said Dafis. “I don’t think this is the end of this. I think we just need to talk more about it and go into the community and have the community let us know how they feel about it.”
“I just think that we need to keep talking about it and educating the public,” added Dafis. “I think that in parallel we should be educating about substance abuse all the time, all substances, including alcohol, including vaping. But that shouldn’t stop us from also doing what we need to do to ensure that this product does not continue to be stigmatized. Because the more we stigmatize it, the more a young person wants to use it.”
“We’ll just continue the conversation,” said Dafis. “But I respect the concerns. I really, really do.”
Statement by Maplewood Mayor Nancy Adams on May 20, 2025:
I want to speak clearly about an issue that is both timely and important: the responsible introduction of cannabis consumption lounges in our municipality and across the state of New Jersey.
Let me start with this fundamental principle: legal cannabis should come with legal, safe, and regulated places for consumption. Just as we regulate where alcohol is consumed, we must offer adults safe and supervised spaces to consume cannabis. Without consumption lounges, we risk pushing cannabis use into public parks, sidewalks, or cars—none of which is safe, equitable, or consistent with public health goals.
Public Safety & Regulation
Cannabis lounges provide a clear path for responsible regulation. They help us:
Reduce unregulated public consumption, including in areas where children or vulnerable populations gather.
Prevent impaired driving, by encouraging walking and rideshare use, that enable us to message this because of the legal consumption lounge.
Ensure ID checks and age verification, which are not always enforced in informal or private consumption settings.
There’s Equity & Social Justice issues here
The cannabis industry in New Jersey was legalized with a promise: to correct the injustices of the failed war on drugs. But equity is more than a license—it’s about access to opportunity and participation in every part of the industry, including consumption.
Lounges offer opportunities for local entrepreneurs—especially those from communities most harmed by past cannabis enforcement—to build thriving, community-based businesses. This is our chance to get it right by creating safe, inclusive, and culturally relevant spaces where people can gather, socialize, and support small businesses.
Economic Development
Cannabis lounges are also an engine for local economic growth. They create good jobs, attract visitors, and complement existing businesses—whether it’s restaurants, music venues like the Woodland, or art galleries. By regulating lounges at the local level, we maintain control over hours, zoning, and community fit—while unlocking new streams of municipal revenue through fees and taxes.
Let’s be clear: our residents voted for legalization. Now, it’s our responsibility to implement it in a way that aligns with our values—responsibility, safety, equity, and economic opportunity.
This is about ensuring Public Health, Not Stigma
Some raise concerns about normalizing cannabis use. I understand those concerns. But prohibition has never stopped use—it’s only pushed it underground. By contrast, lounges allow us to: Educate users about potency, dosage, and effects. Promote harm reduction practices and responsible consumption.
De-stigmatize the cannabis plant, so that people can make informed choices without shame. Just as we don’t judge someone enjoying a glass of wine on a patio, we shouldn’t criminalize or isolate those who choose to responsibly use cannabis in a designated, legal space.
Cannabis lounges are not a radical step—they are a reasonable, regulated, and forward-thinking response to legalization. They align with our state’s commitment to justice, our towns’ goals for vibrant main streets, and our shared responsibility to public safety.
Let’s move forward—not backward—on cannabis policy. Let’s give adults the dignity and space to make responsible choices. And let’s lead the way, here in Maplewood, in showing how legalization can work for everyone.
