Cannabis Dispensary Up For Hoboken City Council Vote: Watch Here

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken City Council plans to vote on Wednesday on whether to support Story Dispensary — a recreational cannabis dispensary that would open at 14th and Hudson streets in the northeast corner of Hoboken.

Neighbors in the densely populated residential area have complained about the potential traffic the business might bring. They've started a petition and website, and filed two lawsuits. READ MORE: Cannabis Dispensary Gets Approval In Wee(d) Hours

But proponents say a dispensary will no more harm the area than the bar-restaurants on that block, or elsewhere in the mile-square city.

In a lawsuit filed in May, the 14th Street building's condo association said that they were led to believe that Jacyln Fulop — wife of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop — and her partners, who purchased the storefront last year, intended to install a physical therapy practice there. Instead, the therapy practice opened across the street. Most counts of the lawsuit were dismissed, but can be filed again once a decision on the dispensary is reached.

Critics filed a second lawsuit on Friday, NJ.com reported.

In addition, some are complaining about possible influence from Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who has invested in the cannabis industry.

(See a resident's letter about the upcoming meeting here.)

Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher has questioned whether there have been conflicts of interest in the matter, particularly because Mayor Fulop is a close ally of Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. One of Jaclyn Fulop's storefront co-owners participated in a pricy fundraiser involving both mayors this year.

The Hoboken City Council passed a rule earlier this year limiting dispensaries in town to six. Story would be the third recreational dispensary to receive local approval in Hoboken and the fifth if one also includes medical dispensaries.

The dispensary has already received local Planning Board approval after five hearings. The council be voting Wednesday on a resolution "SUPPORTING STORY DISPENSARY OF HOBOKEN LLC’S APPLICATION TO THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION."

"WHEREAS, the City Council is satisfied that Story will have a positive impact on theCity’s community, and, subject to Story’s receipt of a Retail Cannabis license from the CRC, Story will satisfy all applicable requirements to operate a Retail Cannabis facility in the City...." says the resolution. "NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Hoboken, in the County of Hudson and State of New Jersey, that the City supports Story’s Retail License application to the CRC."

The resolution is the last one in this agenda packet.

How To See The Council Meeting

The City Council meets Wednesday at City Hall at 7 p.m. The meeting also can be viewed on Facebook with this link.

The meeting agendas on the city website also list other directions to watch and participate via Zoom. Here are the agendas.

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