JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) — Cannabis entrepreneurs in Jersey City found out Wednesday night just how difficult it is to reach opening day.
A City Council vote narrowly confirmed Chelsea Duffy’s application for her planned marijuana dispensary. The vote was six in favor, one against, and two abstentions.
“I’m thrilled, but I know we got this because we deserved it. We’re just waiting for the opportunity to start really getting to work,” Duffy said. “We’ve spent a lot of time and energy, and money in getting to this point.”
The confirmation vote came after months of setbacks, including a rejection last fall, from the city’s local Cannabis Control Board.
Duffy ultimately sued the city and won in order to get her retail dispensary application reinstated so it could then be considered by the council.
The timing was critical, given the council’s plans to institute a moratorium on new cannabis business applications, effective next month.
“As a council, what we have to figure out is how close these dispensaries can be to each other,” said Councilman James Solomon.
He said while there are now about two dozen cannabis-related businesses with city approval, none of them have opened up for business.
