New Marijuana Dispensary Gets Montclair Planning Board Approval

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair Planning Board approved an application for a new recreational marijuana dispensary during their meeting on Monday.

The board reviewed an application from Moodi Day LLC for a conditional use permit for adult cannabis retail use at 151 Valley Road. Learn more about the plans for the property here. See the application here, and see renderings here.

During Monday’s hearing, one of the business’ co-owners, Jacquelin DeVore, said that she and her husband hope to sell adult-use cannabis to local Montclair residents.

“The premise behind our business is that we want to offer local residents cannabis in a really safe and high-quality way,” DeVore said, adding that the business would steer away from the “stoner” stereotype and promote a “health and wellness” mentality.

The company submitted an application for state-level approval on March 15.

“Our business does qualify for priority review, given we're minority-owned and women-owned, but they're still kind of making their way through the stack,” DeVore said of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, the state agency in charge of cannabis business licensing.

If it gets a thumbs-up from both the state and local officials, the dispensary would offer products such as cannabis flowers, “pre-rolled” joints, edibles, tinctures and topicals. It would be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, but would require customers to place their order in advance online, before they come into the dispensary to pick it up and pay.

DeVore said the dispensary anticipates hiring at least 20 employees in the first year, with a commitment to hire half of full-time workers locally in Montclair.

According to the plans, there are no schools or child care center within 250 feet of the proposed location. The prior tenant used the premises as a restaurant, and the space is currently vacant.

Watch a video of the hearing for Moody Day LLC during the Sept. 12 meeting below.

• See related article: Montclair Cannabis Dispensary Begins Selling Weed To Public
• See related article: NJ Marijuana Sales Update: 'Market Is Improving,' Official Says

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