Raekwon’s Weed Dispensary In Newark Is Back On Track: Reports

NEWARK, NJ — A proposed cannabis dispensary and smoking lounge in Newark is back on track after seeing earlier resistance from the city’s planning board, reports say.

Earlier this year, Hashstoria – which includes well-known Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon among its founders – put in the paperwork to open a new location at 799-805 Broad Street. The company has three existing facilities in Oregon. Read More: Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon Plans To Open Cannabis Lounge In Newark

In March, the Newark Central Planning Board denied Hashstoria’s application, with one board member saying that an artist rendering provided as part of the package was offensive. Clergy and parishioners at the nearby Old First Presbyterian Church – the oldest in Newark – had also objected to the plan, NJ.com reported. Read More: Famed Rapper's Proposed Weed Lounge In Newark Hits A Brick Wall

However, the planning board did an about-face on its previous denial and approved the application at their July 24 meeting. Hashstoria plans to start construction as soon as the building permit is approved, TAPintoNewark reported.

The project has gained conditional use approval to operate a Class 5 cannabis retail facility. It must get a final green light from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission before it can open, NJBIZ reported.

Raekwon posted a message on Instagram about the planning board's approval of Hashstoria in Newark, saying that it will be a "culture-shifting endeavor" and it is "guaranteed to be the top tier consumption lounge / dispensary to hit the east coast period."

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.