Paramus Mayor Slams New Trenton Bill Overriding Local Control of Recreational Cannabis

Paramus Mayor Slams State Bill That Could Force Recreational Cannabis Sales in the Borough

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A major legislative battle is brewing between local municipalities and state lawmakers in Trenton over who ultimately controls where recreational marijuana can be sold in New Jersey.

A newly approved state Assembly bill has sparked strong opposition from Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza, who warns that the legislation strip local governments of their zoning power and “home rule” authority.

If signed into law, the bill would allow existing medical cannabis dispensaries to automatically obtain a recreational retail license—completely bypassing the need for local municipal approval.

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The Loophole: How the Bill Affects Paramus and Cranbury

Currently, New Jersey boasts more than 300 licensed cannabis dispensaries across the state, according to data from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. However, out of hundreds of municipalities, Paramus and Cranbury occupy a unique legal position: they are the only two towns in the entire state that permit medical marijuana dispensaries but explicitly ban recreational, adult-use retail sales.

Under the text of the new legislation, business owners applying for a Class 5 adult-use cannabis retailer license at an existing medical dispensary location would “not require additional municipal review.”

The bill, which also introduces revised restrictions on hemp-infused beverages, passed the New Jersey Assembly with a 47-20 vote on May 18, 2026. It has now moved to the state Senate, where a voting date has not yet been scheduled.

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“Trenton is Determining How We Govern”

Mayor Chris DiPiazza, a Republican, voiced deep concerns regarding the state’s latest legislative push, arguing that it undermines the authority of elected local officials.

“It’s another example of Trenton coming into towns and determining how local governments govern,” DiPiazza stated. “They do this with Fair Share Housing and the overdevelopment we’re seeing across the state. Now you’re seeing it when it comes to marijuana. We have local zoning laws that our governing body put into place, but they’re now saying it doesn’t matter what we say.”

DiPiazza urged New Jersey residents to look past their personal stance on cannabis and instead focus on the broader issue of state overreach. “I think that’s what worries me the most,” he added, questioning whether citizens truly want state lawmakers controlling local governing bodies.

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A Multimillion-Dollar Debate: The Local Context

This is not the first time recreational marijuana has been on the table in Paramus.

Rise Dispensaries opened its medical marijuana facility near the Bergen Town Center in March 2021. Shortly after, in 2022, then-Mayor Richard LaBarbiera (a Democrat) proposed expanding the borough’s market to include recreational adult-use sales. At the time, preliminary data suggested that a single medical facility could generate roughly $20 million in annual revenue, which would yield about $400,000 back to the borough via New Jersey’s 2% local cannabis transfer tax.

However, the majority-Republican council—which included DiPiazza as a councilman at the time—tabled the proposal after it failed to receive a motion to move forward.

If Trenton’s new bill successfully passes the Senate and is signed into law, the previous decisions of the Paramus council will effectively be overridden, paving the way for recreational sales near one of North Jersey’s busiest shopping hubs.

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