Yes To Budget, No To Bud: Morristown Revokes Planned Cannabis Retailer License

Update: Uma Flowers has told Patch they plan to appeal Town Council's decision.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — No one made public comment on the adoption of Morristown's 2024 municipal budget at Tuesday's meeting, but several spoke up about what they say is an abrupt decision to stamp out a budding cannabis business.

Town council members denied a one-year cannabis retail license renewal for Uma Flowers, which is in the process of building a dispensary on Ridgedale Avenue. Officials cited a report from the town Cannabis Advisory Board, which "recommended that the request for renewal be denied."

Council members met in executive session before the meeting to talk about the pending license renewal. They did not discuss the matter in the regular meeting, though there is a bit more publicly-available information in township documents.

The town and CAB cited "sufficient evidence that they can no longer continue to support Uma Flowers NJ, LLC and their application" in a resolution denying the company's renewal, thus invalidating the local cannabis business retail license — effective immediately.

Council first approved the resolution allowing the Massachusetts-based vendor to open Morristown's first cannabis dispensary in 2022, and awarded the first retail license on May 24 of that year. The process of finalizing the approvals took longer than expected, and last October officials approved a one-year extension for Uma Flowers to open up shop.

By a vote of 5-1 on Tuesday, council members decided not to renew the license for a second time. This was despite protests from attorneys, a local business owner, and the manager for the construction project.

Frank Vitolo, a lawyer representing the business, said Uma Flowers had received no notice that the town was denying their annual renewal.

"After all this work, millions invested...now the town wants to revoke the license?" he asked, during the public comment period Tuesday.

Fellow attorney Luke Pontier said Uma Flowers was "moving at an expected pace" for this type of project, which required knocking down the former Sam's Automotive Repair building. He said the retailer only received demolition and building permits a few weeks ago after ensuring state and local compliance, and that foundation for the store was just poured this week.

"The project is full steam ahead. Why does this council want to thwart that progress and start over?" he said.

According to township documents, the Cannabis Advisory Board met and reviewed the application on June 5. Uma Flowers had also given council updates "on the various issues pertaining to the project" on May 24 and June 7.

Council members had no comments on adoption of the motion; Steve Pylypchuk was the lone "no" vote.

Council also approved the 2024 municipal budget, which was the agenda item right after the decision on the Uma Flowers license.

Patch has reached out to Uma Flowers and to town officials for further details.