The city confirmed the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey's report of 13 people arrested as a result of the raid. Scalcione said police recovered approximately 35 pounds of marijuana, in addition to:
Police in Jersey City last week raided a black market marijuana "pop-up" event — of the sort chronicled in a recent USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey report — described by police as a literal "market" where weed was sold in various forms.
At least 13 people were arrested late April 25 and April 26 on various marijuana charges, stretching from possession of under 50 grams of pot to possession of over 50 grams with the intent to distribute, according to municipal court records.
If all goes according to Gov. Phil Murphy and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney's plans, marijuana would be taxed at a flat rate of $42 per ounce — no matter the value of the drug.
If legal weed costs $300 per ounce, that $42 tax is a 14 percent tax rate. If the price drops to $200, it's a 21 percent tax rate.
The only barriers separating the black market from the outside world is a thick dark curtain and a glass door, clouded by a room full of marijuana smoke.
Outside, it's quiet in a sleepy Trenton suburb. The faint sound of hip-hop within is drowned out by the honking horns on a nearby highway and planes landing at the small airport a few miles away.
But inside? Business is booming on this Saturday night.