The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board again approved the Seraph & Sons dispensary (they received their first approval in April 2023), while two other, more controversial, applications were pushed at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Local Modiv, seeking to open at 155 Newark Ave., requested to be carried. They are still embroiled in litigation after the board denied them for a second time last month.
“Our counsel … has a childcare issue this evening. Our speakers would not be making it in time for our portion,” CEO Chelsea Duffey noted before the matter was carried until November 25th.
Jose Cantarero, the vice chair of the board who served as the acting chair in the absence of Chair Brittani Bunney, noted the application was initially heard before he joined the board, prompting him to ask city Commerce Director Maynard Woodson for those transcripts.
Seraph & Sons LLC’s dispensary application was then heard.
CCB attorney Ron Mondello noted they were initially approved to be located at 784 Garfield Ave., but would now like to be based at 3662 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
“Seraph & Sons is a diversely owned, woman-owned, micro business with a sole owner. She is indeed Jersey City born and raised,” attorney Ryan McGee explained.
Mondello indicated that the only thing on their application that has changed is their address.
CEO Elizabeth Sarophiem indicated she now lives in North Bergen after growing up in Jersey City and graduating McNair High School before getting her bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University.
She also said she has already received approval from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC).
“It is a commercial building. There are no residents upstairs. There are no places of worship, no schools, no daycare centers in the vicinity,” Sarophiem said about their potential new location in the Heights.
She also said the closest established dispensary would be more than 1,000 feet away.
Furthermore, Sarophiem explained she is on the advisory board of the Hudson County Community College (HCCC) on their Cannabis Studies program and wants to sponsor a scholarship in the cannabis program, as well as employ program graduates.
“Why was there a change of address?” Cantarero asked.
“We had some issues with the redevelopment agency in Jersey City. When we got to planning, we had some hiccups with redevelopment,” Sarophiem replied.
The alternative location used to be a flower shop and the owner recently retired.
“In some respects, it’s a continuing use: It’s flower,” Commissioner Jeff Kaplowitz joked.
“I am happy finally you’re at the end and can open up as a fellow Rutgers grad,” he added before the matter was approved 3-0.
Commissioner Courtney Sloane’s term on the board has expired and her replacement is yet to be named.
The Garden Greenz Dispensary renewal, which has become controversial due alleged homophobic remarks being used by one of the owners, was also pushed.
While the Jersey City Council wants to cap dispensaries, they have yet to agree on the details and again tabled the city’s latest proposal at their October 17th meeting.
