The Jersey City Council unanimously voted down (9-0) the Warrior Weed cannabis dispensary’s application due to saturation concerns and fierce opposition at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Alex Paez, a deacon at the Riverside Assembly of God church at 317 3rd St. – which has mobilized opposition against the new dispensary – exclaimed that children are impressionable.
“It’s a threat to their health and safety!” he shouted.
He noted that a nearby daycare creates a Drug Free School Zone, however, at Warrior Weed’s initial Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) hearing, it was noted that they are 1,500 feet away (415 Monmouth St.), which meets the municipal standards.
“I don’t want any of our children who attend our daycare to see this dispensary,” Paez said to applause, also decrying nearby smoke shops.
Another resident, Amer Esmail, complained about too many dispensaries and smoke shops are operating downtown, both of which detract from the city’s positive attributes such as their diversity.
As public comment continued, Warrior Weed Co-owner Jayme Moran noted her brother James is a disable Marine veteran, which played a role in coming up with the business name.
“We’re excited to be the fifth dispensary to open in Ward E and the very first to open in the Village in downtown Jersey City,” Jayme Moran said.
“With enormous support from the Village Neighborhood Association and the local business community, who came and spoke on our behalf … we were unanimously approved twice,” she noted, adding that they’ve been eager to help veterans in need.
She vowed to continue doing so if they are able to operate on Monmouth Street, where she has owned the property for years.
“We will run a very smooth, successful operation giving back to the local veterans,” Jayme Moran continued, pledging to donate money to the Harsimus Cove Cemetery and noting they already sponsored a trip to help disabled veterans.
Diana Eng said she lives in the same building on the first floor and that she is “not anti-cannabis,” joking that her retirement plan will include “eating a lot of gummies.”
Nonetheless, the building bylaws prevent a cannabis business from opening since it would increase risks via insurance premium increase or cause a loss.
“There is broad and documented opposition … from 216 residents and stakeholders,” she added, noting that about 180 live close by, adding she was disappointed six dispensaries had opened in a 10-block radius downtown.
The governing body ultimately voted unanimously (0-9) against the application after delaying the vote previously due to saturation concerns.
In October 2023, the CCB pushed their application due to concerns that it was too close to a school.
However, they approved the application in February 2024 after Village Neighborhood Association Vice President Irene Barnaby spoke in their favor.
A lot of dispensary owners have been noting that there is a lot of competition and very costly red tape to cope with.
Jersey City has already seen Ice-T’s dispensary, the Medicine Woman, and the local Indian woman Blossom Dispensary close on Tonnelle Avenue, where foot traffic is minimal. Additionally, the local Hispanic-owned JC Element in the Heights already closed.
Public Notice