{"id":14372,"date":"2019-03-12T03:57:40","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T07:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/?p=14372"},"modified":"2019-04-10T01:12:01","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T05:12:01","slug":"vote-to-ban-marijuana-sales-tonight-in-brick-we-toured-a-dispensary-and-want-you-to-vote-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/2019\/03\/vote-to-ban-marijuana-sales-tonight-in-brick-we-toured-a-dispensary-and-want-you-to-vote-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Vote to Ban Marijuana Sales Tonight in Brick: We Toured a Dispensary (And Want You to Vote First)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"v-a5DnP9h6-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='1000' height='562' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/a5DnP9h6?hd=1&cover=1&loop=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&muted=0&controls=1&playsinline=0&useAverageColor=0&preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/s0.wp.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/video\/assets\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js'><\/script><\/div>\n<p>They say you shouldn\u2019t knock it \u2019til you\u2019ve tried it. Now, we\u2019re not advising our readers to get stoned, but it might be worth it to see what a legal cannabis dispensary looks like \u2013 and how it operates \u2013 before forming an opinion.<\/p>\n<p>Several months ago, in anticipation of a vote like the one that the Brick Township council will make tonight on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/2019\/02\/amidst-heightened-security-brick-introduces-ban-on-recreational-marijuana-sales\/\">full-on ban of recreational sales<\/a>, we arranged for a tour of a legal, recreational cannabis dispensary in Las Vegas, and met with its marketing officer. As you can see in the attached video, legal cannabis dispensaries in open markets such as Las Vegas often require significant investment. At Reef Dispensary, where we had our tour, the interior looks more like an Apple store than a stereotypical head shot or cigar store. Nobody was hanging around outside the two times we visited \u2013 once during the day and once at night \u2013 and access rules are strict. Only those age 21 and over are allowed inside, and the business scans a copy of the driver\u2019s license of everyone who comes in.<\/p>\n<p>Employees are also subject to tight restrictions. Background checks are performed, some of the employees are members of major unions, and each employee must check in and out at a secured door. When Shorebeat\u2019s reporter and photographer stepped inside, we had to check in as well, and we quickly met a drug-sniffing dog that ensures nothing comes in or outside of the facility that is illegal or stolen. The security staff is made up almost exclusively of military veterans and former police officers. There have been no reported breaches at the location, though there <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewjournal.com\/crime\/shootings\/no-injuries-in-shooting-outside-north-las-vegas-marijuana-dispensary\/\">was an incident<\/a> last year at another dispensary in North Las Vegas when a customer fired two shots after being kicked out of the store. No one was injured.<\/p>\n<p>Reef is owned by Tryke Companies, a major player in the recreational cannabis marketplace. Its location a few blocks away from major casinos like Bally\u2019s, Harrah\u2019s and the Bellagio make it an in-demand and increasingly-integral part of the strip\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14373\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14373\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14373\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Reef Dispensary, Las Vegas, NV. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-747x420.jpg 747w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick-681x383.jpg 681w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-14373\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Reef Dispensary, Las Vegas, NV. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis is really becoming people\u2019s first stop in Vegas,\u201d said Mike Pizzo, who handles Reef\u2019s digital marketing. \u201cPeople come from the airport right here, browse and make their way to their hotels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The brightly-lit store offers cannabis flower, cartridges to use in vaporizer pens, plus edibles ranging from cookies to gummy bears. There\u2019s even a frequent customer discount plus a free gift for those celebrating their birthdays in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14271\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14271\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14271\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"The retail portion of Reef Dispensaries in Las Vegas, NV, photographed during a tour of the facility. (Photo: Daniel Nee\/Shorebeat)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reef_dispensary_las_vegas_41-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-14271\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The retail portion of Reef Dispensaries in Las Vegas, NV, photographed during a tour of the facility. (Photo: Daniel Nee\/Shorebeat)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Brick\u2019s proposed ordinance would ban any cannabis sales outright. In Las Vegas, sales are allowed, but are strictly regulated through zoning ordinances to <a href=\"https:\/\/mjbizdaily.com\/las-vegas-will-allow-dispensaries-on-the-strip\/\">create specific sectors<\/a> where dispensaries are allowed. The zoning ordinance was revised in 2014 to allow the businesses to operate in a special zone\u00a0off Las Vegas Boulevard within city limits, but just behind the line of casinos. Clark County, which controls the bulk of Las Vegas Boulevard and is technically outside of the city limits, adopted an ordinance prohibiting dispensaries.<\/p>\n<p>Last summer, a new player in the market pledged to invest $7.8 million in a new dispensary complex near the strip called Planet 13, will be a high-end lounge in anticipation of a new law which will allow such businesses to operate. Existing businesses have drawn celebrities \u2013 including stoner icon Snoop Dogg \u2013 to spin records and entertain patrons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to hurt any community that legalizes,\u201d said Pizzo. \u201cI actually think it\u2019s going to help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brick Mayor John Ducey has previously soured on hosting cannabis dispensaries in town, adding that he does not believe the tax incentives for municipalities are worth it, though he did once say he would favor a public referendum.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be in favor of having any stores in town selling recreational [marijuana], Ducey <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/2018\/11\/ducey-2-percent-recreational-marijuana-tax-a-joke-for-towns-wont-make-sense-for-brick\/\">told Shorebeat<\/a>. \u201cThe 2 percent tax is a joke. I don\u2019t think it makes sense for Brick, especially with the tax at 2 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The township council will take its vote at Tuesday night\u2019s meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the township municipal complex. The meeting is likely to bring scores of residents on both sides of the issue to the formal public hearing that must take place before the council conducts its final vote.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Now, it\u2019s your turn to vote. Does Brick want recreational dispensaries banned from town? Cast your \u201cballot\u201d below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"polls-22\" class=\"wp-polls\">\n\t<form id=\"polls_form_22\" class=\"wp-polls-form\" action=\"\/brick\/index.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t<p style=\"display: none;\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"poll_22_nonce\" name=\"wp-polls-nonce\" value=\"ac6490343c\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t<p style=\"display: none;\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"poll_id\" value=\"22\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should Brick BAN Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries?<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"polls-22-ans\" class=\"wp-polls-ans\"><ul class=\"wp-polls-ul\">\n\t\t<li><input type=\"radio\" id=\"poll-answer-73\" name=\"poll_22\" value=\"73\" \/> <label for=\"poll-answer-73\">YES: Ban Them<\/label><\/li>\n\t\t<li><input type=\"radio\" id=\"poll-answer-74\" name=\"poll_22\" value=\"74\" \/> <label for=\"poll-answer-74\">NO: Allow Them (In appropriate zones.)<\/label><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><input type=\"button\" name=\"vote\" value=\"   Vote   \" class=\"Buttons\" onclick=\"poll_vote(22);\" \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#ViewPollResults\" onclick=\"poll_result(22); return false;\" title=\"View Results Of This Poll\">View Results<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"polls-22-loading\" class=\"wp-polls-loading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-polls\/images\/loading.gif\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading ...\" title=\"Loading ...\" class=\"wp-polls-image\" \/>\u00a0Loading ...<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"fcbkbttn_buttons_block\" id=\"fcbkbttn_left\"><div class=\"fb-share-button fcbkbttn_large_button \" data-href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/2019\/03\/vote-to-ban-marijuana-sales-tonight-in-brick-we-toured-a-dispensary-and-want-you-to-vote-first\/\" data-type=\"button_count\" data-size=\"large\"><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They say you shouldn\u2019t knock it \u2019til you\u2019ve tried it. Now, we\u2019re not advising our readers to get stoned, but it might be worth it to see what a legal cannabis dispensary looks like \u2013 and how it operates \u2013 before forming an opinion. Several months ago, in anticipation of a vote like the one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14373,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2,3674],"tags":[24,889,3642,603,3549],"class_list":["post-14372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","category-video","tag-brick-nj-news","tag-marijuana","tag-marijuana-ban","tag-marijuana-legalization","tag-recreational-marijuana","post_format-post-format-video"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dispen_0310_reef_brick.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgt2Ft-3JO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}