UPDATED: 3 Cannabis Dispensaries Would Occupy Restaurant Sites In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — The town's relatively new Cannabis Review Board will hear three applications Thursday from people who want to open dispensaries around the city, at different sites from the three medical marijuana facilities that have already taken steps to open.

According to Thursday's agenda, the sites are at 51-53 Fourteenth St., which is the address of the former Hudson Tavern restaurant; 128 Washington St., and 516 Washington St. All are present or past restaurant sites.

(Related news: New health clinic opens in Hoboken, offers rapid COVID tests. Read more here.)

All three have applied for a retail cannabis license rather than a medical cannabis license.

On Wednesday, city spokesperson Marilyn Baer responded, "As determined through the City Council's unanimous adoption, which was preceded by a lengthy community process, cannabis retailers have been approved as a use in business and industrial districts, as spelled out in the council’s ordinance."

She added, "The Cannabis Review Board as well as the Planning Board will review all applications for consideration based on their merits and consistency with municipal code, with members of the public welcome to provide input during their open public hearings. Should applicants be approved and receive a state license, they will be required to follow strict building code enforcement. All approved cannabis retailers will also be providing the city with additional tax revenue through the cannabis transfer tax."

Opening At 3 Restaurant Sites

The agenda includes links to two neighborhood impact reports with the applications. The applicants for 128 Washington St., currently the address of Precious, a Chinese restaurant, wrote:

"The proposed project will occupy the ground floor of existing mixed-use building currently occupied by a restaurant with a state-approved adult use cannabis dispensary ... The dispensary will operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on days permitted."

Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said, in a Tuesday email message to let the neighbors know, that these facilities may allow on-site use.

"The Cannabis Review Board is just one of many steps required before a dispensary can open," Fisher noted. "If Hoboken’s CRB approves it, then it still has to go to through the Hoboken Planning Board, where the public has another opportunity to be heard."

She added, "Nothing can happen until a license is approved by the state – a process that, according to this article, doesn’t start until March 15 and favors equity applications and impact areas first. That said, it could be as early as this summer/fall when these dispensaries, if approved, could be open."

Fisher encouraged interested parties to join the Zoom meeting Thursday at 7 here.

Got a business tip in Hoboken or Jersey City? Email Patch here. See more local business and restaurant openings and closings below:

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