The Nile cannabis dispensary recently opened at 5411 Bergenline Ave. in West New York, one of the few marijuana businesses operating in North Hudson.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Nile Co-founder Leland O’Connor noted that there has been a great demand in the area for a legal dispensary for a while.
“People have wanted it for a long time and we’re just happy to bring it to the customers in this area,” he indicated, noting that there are few competitors outside of HudHaüs in North Bergen.
O’Connor explained that many of their customers thus far want to try new cannabis strains and infused creams for pain, which they’re eager to provide.
A cultivation company from Oregon Grown Rogue invested in Nile NJ LLC, who specialize in craft cannabis, and also has a growing facility in Paulsboro.
During the grand opening, the Grown Rogue Brand Ambassadors were at Nile tabling and showing off their pre-rolls and flower and talking to customers. They explained they are planning on introducing even more new products soon.
Nile dispensary also featured cannabis flower from Full Tilt Labs, Cookies, and others in a separate bud bar too.
Additionally, Assistant General Manager Dominick Brennan noted they wanted to do more with their bud bar.
“We’re trying to make it more interactive. They (the state) made us submit a whole SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) …. to do it,” he explained, adding that they want to have the best flower and concentrates available.
“Creating pre-rolls bundles has definitely been successful, they come once a day for the new pre-rolls,” he added.
O’Connor explained they named the place after the Nile River in Africa.
“It’s one of the birthplaces of life. It’s one of the largest rivers in the world that flows reverse course, and we’re trying to reverse a lot of the ills of the War on Drugs,” he noted.
“We’re minority-owned, me and my partner are African American, so it plays on Africa at large.”
He further explained he got into cannabis in 2017 on the CBD side with GennCanna.
His dad was in law enforcement initially and became a security consultant for a company in Kentucky interested in hemp and ultimately O’Connor served as their consultant on financial matters for a little while.
“I quickly fell in love with it,” he said.
O’Connor felt it was impactful helping them grow and promote the medical benefits of CBD.
He currently lives in Long Branch and grew up in West Philadelphia.
“I didn’t grow up in the best of neighborhoods and to something see where a lot of ppl were either in prison for something’s that mainstream toady. I actually wanted to take part in that,” he noted.
West New York approved a resolution allowing Nile Dispensary to open in February 2022, and the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) granted them a license in December 2022.
However, like many others, O’Connor soon realized opening a dispensary was not easy. Finding a good construction company to work with was especially hard, along with dealing with town permits and other regulations.
Furthermore, O’Connor also explained that despite his background on Wall Street, he had trouble raising money like many other small business owners.
“I think a lot of people come into this industry thinking that, oh, it’s just weed and don’t realize the ramifications,” O’Connor declared.
WNY nothing but vice. Albio Sires shame on you for what is happening in West New York. Start training your PD and get them Policing. Drunkeness and Prostitution is every where in West New York town. Family’s cant go outside their homes after dark at all!
Albio you are the worse creature ever to be a politician. Go back to Cuba and do your crimes there. We had enough of you. I am Cuban and call you out!… POS