The Jersey City Planning Board approved several applications for cannabis dispensary licenses, while postponing a few others, at a special meeting last night.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The first dispensary in Jersey City was approved last week by the planning board last week, as HCV first reported.
“If anybody wants to debate the evils of cannabis, tonight is not your night,” joked Planning Board Chair Christopher Langston ahead of an agenda with 12 different applicants.
Board Attorney Santo Alampi said the locations have already been reviewed to ensure they conform with the established confines.
The first application was for Idyllx LLC at 171 Newark Ave. Architect William Severino noted they have been open since December 2020 as the Artistic Smoke Shop.
This proposal was for a micro license only with 250 square feet of retail space. In the front of the space, there will be a lobby with a security desk and a waiting area to check IDs and cannabis will be kept in a vault.
“We don’t expect any outlandish smells or odor that would have to be dealt with. There is nothing here that should be generating noise outside of a standard retail store,” Severino said.
“There is going to be an armed guard there at the front of the store. There will be cameras,” Miller said.
He also noted that the cash and cannabis would be under 24/7 surveillance video, which they’re prepared to share with the Jersey City Police Department and/or New Jersey State Police in a worst case scenario.
“Under the community impact section, is there any other beautification of the storefront or anything else we can look forward to?,” Langston asked.
Cannabis attorney and consultant John Mackewich noted the building has already been renovated.
“We’re not going to be making significant changes to the building,” he replied.
“How are these things going to be implemented?” Langston asked.
“As an existing business in the community, we’ve sought to integrate ourselves in the community,” Mackewich stated.
He said they are looking for ways to give back, working with neighbors on the nature of cannabis and hearing their concerns at educational meeting they will be hosted.
Not all members of the public were satisfied with the applicant during public comment.
“Citizens of Jersey City have been in that establishment and purchased marijuana already,” said Carmen Delgado.
“Unfortunately, this board only deals with zoning,” Langston said.
“If it’s happening, that’s for enforcement and the police and that’s who that would be directed to,” Alampi said.
“No marijuana is being sold at that location. Or Delta-8 THC, which the FDA has not regulated and is not illegal. That may be the source of the confusion. No state or federal laws are being violated,” Miller responded.
Delgado claimed she had photos of bottles being labeled as cannabis.
Shayla Cabrera, of Tia Planta, who received an adult-use cannabis cultivation license from the state to operate in Jersey City last week, seconded Delgado’s concerns.
“I do know for a fact … they currently sell THC-based cannabis. As a cultivator that cuts into my market. Not Delta-8 THC. They’ve done nothing for the community so far,” she exclaimed.
“There is no Delta 9-THC-infused product being sold at this location. Delta 8 and Delta 9 are different compounds of the THC in cannabis,” Miller said.
“Your shop is currently selling illegal cannabis,” Cabrera repeated.
Miller also doubled down, invited the planning board commissioners to visit the establishment with police officers.
“What can we do as a community to have a say in this avalanche of smoke shops opening on Newark Ave? Are these being treated as restaurants?,” Madalina Persu asked.
“This is a permitted use under city ordinance. There’s zoning in place, and that’s what we’re here to discuss tonight,” Langston explained.
Alampi said getting heard before the planning board was the first step in a long process in getting licensed by the state, a process that offers no guarantees.
Commissioner Joyce Watterman, also planning board commissioners asked if the Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) would focus on applicants giving back to the community.
“I think we need to make emphasis on that when it comes to giving back to the community and what they’re doing for the community,” she noted.
After four-and-a-half hours, the board approved seven applications, including Idyllx, and carried three others.
The Jersey City Planning Board’s does not hear applications after 11 p.m., with the board chair making a call at 10 p.m. on whether or not to continue to hear more applicants.
Does Mayor Fulop’s wife who is trying to open a pot shop in a residential building in Hoboken, have any financial interest any of these Jersey City shops ?