Madison votes against cannabis dispensary despite earlier approval of medicinal sales

A Morris County town has denied its first application for a medical marijuana dispensary after having approved medicinal sales earlier this year.
Madison's council voted just after midnight against the proposal from First Choice Health & Wellness to open a medical dispensary on Main Street.
Passionate residents on both sides of the argument made their voices heard on Monday night.
There had been support for the spot, with hundreds signing an online petition to say "yes." But even more have signed another one in opposition, backing their campaign against any cannabis sales in Madison with lawn signs all over town. Their concerns include traffic, safety and the potential that medical-only could grow beyond that.
"What about thousands of kids whose lives would greatly improve from access to medical cannabis?" asked one resident.
"For me, it's in my backyard and I've got little kids playing in my backyard," says neighbor Katie Perkins.
"Why not just do away with it all? Not only do we not want recreational. We don't even want the chance for it to start as medicinal and then people pulling strings and other applications coming in," says resident Caitlin Santora.
An ordinance was passed that would prevent any recreational marijuana dispensaries from setting up in the community. Most council members apparently cited a lack of information and preparedness on the applicant's part as reasons for the plan's rejection.