The Garden Greenz dispensary opened on the downtown Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza in Jersey City on Halloween, making them the third one to open in the city.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The opening was well attended, with a few people showing off their holiday spirit, such as the DJ who played songs in a Batman costume as people waited to get inside the establishment at 190 Newark Ave.
Owner Brian Markey was raised in Greenville and has moved to East Hanover. According to his initial cannabis control board testimony, he delivered the Jersey Journal as a kid and is Hispanic.
“It’s insane right now to finally open the door. The last five days have felt like five years. We feel really excited to get people in and be part of this community. Cannabis is a really new thing in Jersey City, and we want to be one of the pinnacle places,” Markey said in an interview.
“This has the opportunity to be something really special of a location,” he added.
Markey noted they are largely carrying the products of Multi-State Operators (MSO) for now.
“We’re really waiting for the micro grows to come about to really involve smaller growers and feature their products. A big part of what we’re doing here is showcasing these guys from Jersey making really, really great products.”
Jersey City Diversity and Inclusion Director Dr. Floyd Jeter was there to celebrate the opening, pointing out that that they hired people from the job fair he facilitated.
“I am a big supporter of this because a lot of people who were marginalized in the Black and Brown communities can actually get a chance now to actually be viable now to also change their social status,” he explained.
“That opportunity works out when they’re passionate about it. You’re going to get better workers. You get somebody who believes it and likes it. At a marijuana dispensary, that’s the ideal job for many people. And we’re giving them that opportunity, especially Jersey City residents. You’ve seen how it goes in other municipalities. No one else is doing that.”
He noted at least 10 dispensaries will be opening in Jersey City in the next year.
“That’s 100 Jersey City residents that get opportunities … second chances, reentry for all those workers who were crucified actually get an opportunity,” Jeter declared.
He said of the 10 people hired for Garden Greenz, seven or eight are locals that got the job through the career fair.
Jersey City Young Democrats Vice President Bernard Herk was also there celebrating. He explained that Garden Greenz consultant Frank Robinson is a family friend he wanted to support.
“They’re employing people from Jersey City, you know, which brings back money to JC, which you know then uplifts the community where they live in. And Garden Greenz is doing that,” he explained.
“I think that’s a great thing. I hope they can keep doing it. I just wish them much success in their business.”
Jeter noted Osbert Orduna’s The Cannabis Place is opening next week and the Leaf Joint wants to open on Black Friday.
Garden Greenz won its annual New Jersey adult use cannabis dispensary license from the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission in June.
The Jersey City Council approved their resolution to open last year, almost a year ago to the day and was one of the first Jersey City cannabis dispensaries to get final approval from the CCB to open.
Given their prime location, they have been vocal about the city’s 600-foot distance rule from other dispensaries.
A lawsuit is likely necessary to resolve the distance question on the Jersey City map of dispensaries, which the Cannabis Place has already done. Markey said he is mulling doing the same.
Additionally, Garden Greenz has supported New Jersey adult use dispensaries elsewhere in the city, like Benedict’s Supply.
Having an opening party for cannabis distribution store aimed at young children is troubling.