“After a careful review of the ordinance, I believe that we should make the following amendments to our cannabis ordinances,” Bhalla said.
The mayors recommended changes are:
Capping the number of dispensaries (medical and recreational) to a maximum of six and a maximum of three in each of the citys six wards.
The application that set all of this in motion is for a dispensary on 14th and Hudson Streets in the former location of Hudson Tavern. It’s at the base of a residential building owned by an LLC affiliated with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s wife Jaclyn. And it sits in the second ward, led by Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher.
She didn’t realize legislation she had approved last year would allow dispensaries in part of her ward, and she admitted she regrets not paying closer attention at the time.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is proposing changes to the city’s cannabis dispensary rules, in light of the local cannabis review board approving its first retail cannabis application despite criticism from the public.
Hoboken’s Cannabis Review Board signed off on the city’s first-ever proposed retail cannabis business, which hopes to open in the 14th Street space previously occupied by Hudson Tavern restaurant.
During a virtual meeting Thursday night, the 3-person board OK-ed an application filed by Story Dispensary of Hoboken, LLC, which allows the proposal to proceed to the next step in the process — Planning Board approval.
Harmony received unanimous support from board members to open a dispensary and revealed that the New Jersey Department of Health has issued preliminary approval to proceed with its Hoboken location. Hoboken’s planning board and Historic Preservation Committee have already granted Harmony final approval.