Hoboken council takes first step to change cannabis rules to benefit Blue Violets

The Hoboken City Council okayed a resolution supporting responsible cannabis dispensaries, as well as the first reading of an ordinance to allow dispensaries to be within 600 feet of a school that applied before the municipal law was changed in 2022.

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

“We came here and you repeatedly promised there was nothing to be concerned about … Within 500 days of operations, I can confidentially say we have been right about every single thing,”  Blue Violets Co-founder Lauren Thompson declared during public comment.

“ … We have paid $90,000 to the city of Hoboken in annual licensing fees as well as collected sales tax. Countless members of our community have urged you to rectify this situation.”

In April 2022, Hoboken changed the 500-foot distance requirement and extended it to 600 feet as part of their “common sense” amendments after Blue Violets dispensary submitted their application that narrowly cleared the council.

Blue Violets won an appeal at the end of last year, overturning a superior court ruling against them that came about due to a lawsuit filed by “Hoboken for Responsible Cannabis” group spearheaded by now-council-at-large candidate Liz Urtecho.

The matter will now be heard by the New Jersey Supreme Court at a date to be determined.

Since 2022, Blue Violets has been fighting a backlash created by the Multi-State Operator (MSO) Story dispensary, which was approved only after months of opposition and a court case, though it still hasn’t opened and it’s unclear if it ever will at this stage.

“Please let Lauren and (her husband) Max continue their flourishing business … Legal marijuana is not the problem,” exclaimed Emily Wirt.

“What makes Blue Violets different is they are a true mom and pop shop …Hoboken is fortunate to have them …  Youth cannabis use actually decreases in states with regulated dispensaries,” noted Jesse Marie Villars, of Baked by the River dispensary in Lambertville.

She also pointed out that every potential customers ID must be checked before they can consider shopping, therefore they are one of the most well-regulated businesses in the state.

“They were one of the most thorough presentations at the time. Is this purely political? Why is it being presented today?” 6th Ward council candidate Manny Rivera Soler asked.

His question was not answered before the council began deliberating.

“I never thought it was a common sense amendment. I voted against it then. And I’m glad to see my council colleagues who voted for it are willing to make some changes,” began 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo

He continued that he asked the police department for the statistics related to responding to an incident at a cannabis dispensary.

“The only calls for service were accidental alarms … I hope all my Council colleagues vote for it tonight,” he declared to applause.

5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen explained he is co-sponsoring the effort with Councilman-at-Large Joe Quintero after voting for the aforementioned 2022 ordinance (They both took aim at Fisher and Urtecho in advance of Wednesday’s meeting via a letter to the editor).

“Everyone concedes, even the people suing them, that they’re good neighbors … I hope this is a unanimous approval tonight,” he said.

2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, who is running Urtecho on her ticket, interjected that it would not be unanimous and accused the council as a whole of playing election season politics to make her look bad during her mayoral run.

“It’s political gamesmanship,” she declared.

Fisher claimed there was not enough public input on the 2021 Hoboken cannabis law she voted for, asserting that she and her colleagues did not give it the thought it required.

“We really didn’t understand the implications of the law … The community freaked out,” she explained, pointing out that two of her opponents, 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos and Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour, also supported her proposed amendments.

Fisher reiterated that the case was still active and it was up to the New Jersey Supreme Court to decide the final outcome.

“ … We’ve seen probably the master political games. And I think you just put on a master class of political games during your comments,” Quintero chided, admitting that he regretted supporting Fisher’s ordinance from 2022.

“I think everyone … is afforded the opportunity to reassess. Especially after you reassess with evidence,” stated 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, noting that the appeals court victory should be acknowledged.

“I did not want to harm people who were already in the process. I will be voting to support this,” Jabbour added to applause.

Additionally, Council President Jim Doyle said he only voted for the amendment at the time because if capped dispensaries in the city at six, and while he didn’t agree with Fisher that this was happening to make her look bad, he agreed the resolution was not completely honest.

“This resolution also offends me … it’s also a political spin on these events.”

The resolution supporting the existing Hoboken dispensaries passed 6-1(1) with Doyle voting no and Fisher abstaining to applause.

The first reading of the ordinance that would allow Blue Violets to operate as is passed 5-3, with Doyle, Fisher, and 1st Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano voting no.