Hoboken 'Exotic' CBD Shop Ordered To Close Due To Alleged Marijuana Sales: City

HOBOKEN, NJ — Two adults and a juvenile were arrested this week in connection with a narcotics investigation at a Hoboken CBD and exotic snack shop that opened in November — and the city has now ordered Hoboken Exotic to close.

The Hoboken Police Department said Thursday morning they had arrested the three people in "a narcotics investigation into the ongoing and illegal sales of controlled substances out of a Hoboken storefront."

Specifically, police said, "unregulated marijuana" was being sold.

Later on Thursday, the city reported that it had revoked the certificate of occupancy for Hoboken Exotic at 521 Washington St., which was still open for business that day. They said they told the store to close.

Owner And Employee Charged

Police said the Hoboken Police Department Street Crimes Unit began the investigation last month.

"This came in response to multiple community complaints alleging that the store was selling cannabis illegally without local and state licenses," said Hoboken Public Safety Spokesperson Marci Rubin. "The investigation involved a series of undercover purchases set up and conducted by members of the department’s Street Crimes Unit."

The weeks long investigation led to the seizure of "unregulated marijuana" and the arrest of 33-
year-old Brahim Brahim of Jersey City, police said.

Marijuana refers to parts of the cannabis plant that contain substantial quantities of THC, a psychoactive compound. Both medical and recreational marijuana sales are legal in New Jersey, but require a license and must be done under strict guidelines. CBD is another compound found in the plant, and does not cause a "high."

Brahim, an employee of the store, was charged with multiple counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, including the sale within 500 feet of public property (a park), and 1,000 feet of school property, police said. He was released on his own recognizance pending a court date, police said.

Police also arrested Esa Alsaedi, 32, of Kew Gardens, N.Y., who was identified as the store's owner.

Alsaedi was charged with employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme, which is a second-degree crime, police said.

Alsaedi turned himself into the Hoboken Police Department, was processed, and was brought to the Hudson County Correctional Facility. He was released pending a court date, police said.

"The juvenile was processed for the role played in the illegal distribution of marijuana and
released," police said.

Store Closed, Offering Delivery

As of Thursday afternoon, the store was still open. A city spokesperson said at the end of the day, "The city's zoning officer notified the business that its Final Certificate of Zoning Compliance and Certificate of Occupancy have been revoked. As such, it has been instructed to close immediately."

By Friday, there was an Order to Vacate on the door. The owners also posted a sign, saying "We're sorry for the inconvenience but we have pickup and delivery" at 551-229-3262.

The city said the following summonses have been issued:

• Operating a cannabis business without a license issued by the State of New Jersey.
• Operating a cannabis business without obtaining zoning compliance and certificate of occupancy for that use.
• Failure to collect and remit taxes to the City of Hoboken on the sale of cannabis products

“The sale and use of unregulated cannabis and illicit drugs has been prevalent across the state,” said Police Chief Steven Aguiar. “Thank you to the community for coming forth to report the illegal sale of cannabis and to the hard-working men and women of the police department for their thorough investigation.”

Several medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries have gone through the licensing and approval process in Hoboken, but have not yet opened.

READ MORE: New CBD, Snack And Grocery Store, Hoboken Exotic, Opens