NUTLEY, NJ – People from surrounding communities voiced their opinions on the potential ban of Cannabis in Nutley during the Tuesday, May 18 Nutley Board of Commissioners public meeting. Public Safety Commissioner Alphonse Petracco was marked absent excused.
During the May 4 BOC public meeting, the commissioners introduced Ordinance No. 3473 to temporarily ban the operation of any class of cannabis businesses within the township of Nutley. See related story: Nutley’s Cannabis Ordinance Introduced, Municipal Budget Hearing Still Shows Increase in Taxes
Jeffrey King of Eatontown spoke out advocating for medical cannabis access. King pointed out that AARP supports medical marijuana, as well as the American Legion. King said it helps people of all ages with some “horrible” conditions.
“If you can find a way to possibly find some space for medical cannabis in Nutley, I think that would be altogether fitting and proper,” King said. He added, “If you’re the hometown that created valium then you can find a way to fit this herbal remedy into your pharmacopeia.”
According to Tucci, Nutley is taking the action to place a temporary ban on cannabis because they have an August deadline to react, otherwise all avenues would be open for anyone to produce, distribute and manufacture. Tucci said Nutley is a very family oriented community.
Edward “Lefty” Grimes of SativaCross.org, a non-profit organization advocating for disabled and cannabis patients’ rights, asked that the commissioners consider people in wheelchairs when they vote on the ordinance. “I ask every council this, to spend a day in a wheelchair. This is one of my advocacies, because a step is a wall to someone in a wheelchair. And an ordinance is even worse, because people in wheelchairs can’t get their medicine as it is,” he said.
Health insurance does not cover medical marijuana. Additionally, Grimes pointed out that while there is no tax on pharmaceutical drugs such as insulin and heart medication there is a tax on medical cannabis. “Taxing multiple sclerosis patients and cancer patients […] I mean we need help. We are getting moldy cannabis from corporations that are coming into our country building their industry off the sick and the dying,” he said.
Grimes said his friend recently diagnosed with cancer is a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and has to drive an hour to the closest dispensary. “We need to take better care of our vets. […] They’re in wheelchairs, they’re suffering, they have PTSD, they may have a limb missing and you want to put obstacles in front of them and give them more work. They should have less work, they should be put first,” he said.
Marina Redman of Parlin shared her journey with medical cannabis with the commissioners. Redman suffers from PTSD and was recently diagnosed with cancer. According to Redman, without medical cannabis, she lost 50 pounds within three weeks and once she received the medical marijuana card, it was a game changer. Redman said she was able to eat, walk and live again, no longer getting sick and vomiting.
In New Jersey, there are 63 psychiatric doctors and 10 pediatric doctors that can prescribe cannabis. Additionally, she said in Essex County there are over 105 doctors with this ability. Those practicing medicine in Nutley include, Pediatrics Specialist Barry Prystowsky, MD; Neurologist Andrew Medvedovsky; Internal Medicine Specialists Edward Vecchione, MD; Joseph Sambataro, MD; Louis Citarelli, MD; and Paul V Dell’Aquila, MD.
The public hearing for the ordinance will be held during the June 1 meeting.
The next Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1 via Zoom. To gain access to the meeting go to zoom.us/j/98805921694. Password: 876956. For those without computer access or mobile device you may dial into the meeting at: (number based on your current location) US: +1 929 205 6099; +1 312 626 6799; +1 301 715 8592; +1 346 248 7799; +1 669 900 6833; or +1 253 215 8782. Meeting ID: 988 0592 1694.
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