The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board has approved the applications of three retail cannabis operations, tabling two others for a later date.
The three applicants approved by the board on Oct. 17were Golden Door Dispensary in Journal Square, Kushklub NJ on Tonnelle Avenue, and Community Wellness Center of NJ, which is right under the Pulaski Skyway. The two tabled were Legacy to Lifted, which could locate on the West Side, and Lifted Vision, which could be in the Heights.
Opening the doors
The first applicant approved in an unanimous vote (with Commissioner Stacey Flanagan recusing herself) was Golden Door Dispensary, who are looking to open a store at 638 Newark Ave. in Journal Square.
The owner of the business, Brett D’Alessandro, is a retired Marine Corp sergeant who runs a non-profit called “Backpacks for Life” that coaches and mentors veterans who are homeless. He talked about how a friend introducing him to cannabis helped him get off of drugs that were issued by Veterans Affairs.