Paterson

John De Los Santos has a plan to open a new recreational cannabis dispensary in Paterson, his hometown; he was given conditional approval last year by state regulators for it. The only thing stopping him is city politics.

Paterson has a limit of three recreational cannabis dispensaries in the city and that quota has been filled. That leaves De Los Santos on the outside looking in, as he struggles to keep investors and a lease in place.

The Paterson City Council had a heated session before rejecting several proposed changes to local cannabis business rules on Tuesday.

Among the changes proposed was an increase from the currently allowable maximum of three retail cannabis outlets within the City of Paterson to six, reducing the distance between cannabis businesses from schools and places of worship from 300 feet to 200 feet, and the surcharge the city would collect on future cannabis sales.

City officials are looking to expand Paterson’s cannabis industry, partly by eliminating a local law that bans retail marijuana stores from operating within 300 feet of homes.

Under the proposed change, the city also would reduce the distance requirement for marijuana stores regarding churches and schools from 300 feet to 200 feet. Moreover, the city would increase the number of retail cannabis licenses in Paterson from three to six.

What comes next?

The Paterson City Council has approved a resolution to support the state application for a Class 1 cultivator facility in the city. This resolution comes after the council had previously endorsed a site on 6th Avenue for Green Recreational Holdings, LLC to operate a Class 2 cannabis manufacturing facility. The manufacturing facility is responsible for transforming raw cannabis materials into various forms, including edibles, oils, extracts, topicals, and other cannabis-infused products.

Green Recreational Holdings LLC’s application was approved to operate a Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer at 185-199 6th Avenue, while CANN-SC LLC, Aurora Green LLC and Green Leaf Pharma NJ, LLC’s application were approved to operate as a Class 1 Cannabis Cultivator at 189 E. 7th St., 52-66 Iowa Ave, and 48 E. 23rd St.

Wayne Township residents who enjoy cannabis may soon have a shorter trip for legally purchasing the substance. State regulators approved a retailer license for a Haledon-based business, paving the way for a dispensary in the borough.

Wayne's Township Council voted in April 2021 to ban recreational-weed businesses from operating within the township. The closest dispensary offering medicinal or recreational cannabis is RISE, a Paterson business that offers both.

The Paterson City Council approved an ordinance to regulate the sales of cannabis and the operation of dispensaries within the city, on Tuesday. The effort, according to the measure, is to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the community.

The council previously rejected the sale or cultivation of adult-use cannabis, a move that drew a swift veto by Mayor Andre Sayegh. In a guest column published by TAPinto Paterson, Board of Education President Kenneth Simmons also registered his opinion that dispensaries should not be allowed in the city.

The Paterson City Council took steps last week to regulate the sales of cannabis and the operation of dispensaries within the city. The effort, according to the measure, is to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the community.

The council previously rejected the sale or cultivation of adult-use cannabis, a move that drew a swift veto by Mayor Andre Sayegh. In a guest colum published by TAPinto Paterson, Board of Education President Kenneth Simmons also registered his opinion that dispensaries should not be allowed in the city.

According to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), those 13 locations are:

North Jersey:

• Apothecarium, 1865 Springfield, Avenue, Maplewood
• Apothecarium, 55 South Main Street, Phillipsburg
• Ascend Wellness, 174 Route 17 North, Rochelle Park
• RISE, 26-48 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield
• RISE, 196 3rd Avenue, #3C, Paterson

Central Jersey:

Here’s what to know on the first day of legal weed in New Jersey.

Where is the nearest dispensary?

The Apothecarium in Phillipsburg is the closest New Jersey dispensary that has been cleared for recreational sales. It opens at 10 a.m. Thursday at 55 South Main Street.

Parent company TerrAscend also has an Apothecarium in Maplewood, which opens at 9 a.m.

Other New Jersey legal weed sites are:

• Verano, under the Zen Leaf banner, at its locations in Elizabeth and Lawrence at 9 a.m.