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It’s déjà vu all over again in the Village neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City.
Only the name of the applicant has changed in a NIMBY battle between a group of residents and a legal cannabis business looking to set up shop at 17 Division St.
Sugar Magnolia Supply Company, fronted by TV home improvement star Anthony Carrino — of HGTV’s “Kitchen Cousins” and currently Hulu’s “Rachael Ray’s Rebuild” — has proposed to open a recreational dispensary in the same location a prospective cannabis business Green Ashram was rejected eight months ago.
Carrino, a Jersey City native, and Sugar Magnolia are meeting the same resistance by the same community members who argue a cannabis dispensary would be harmful to the family friendly area — in spite of the fact that Sugar Magnolia is in compliance with all city and state cannabis regulations.
The application is on the city’s Cannabis Control Board’s agenda Monday to potentially receive one of the few city approvals needed to open.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals have the same ‘reefer madness’ views from 20 years ago,” said Heather Kumer, an attorney for Sugar Magnolia. “However, times have changed and I would encourage (the “not in my backyard”) residents to educate themselves and visit one of the dispensaries in Jersey City.”
Danielle Sporcic, the owner of nearby The Little Gym, says the neighborhood has “created a place for kids, and so as adults, we need to not be greedy. We need to let kids have their space.”
In making the not-in-my-backyard argument, she contends “There are so many other places, even within Downtown, where these dispensaries can open up. (This is) just not the right location. That’s what it comes down to.”
Kumer said there’s no basis to believe that children will be harmfully impacted by a lawfully permitted and compliant retail establishment, which would not be a consumption lounge. In fact, she said, only 20.47% of households in the Hamilton Park neighborhood have children and 79.53% of households there are without children.
She also noted the “recently opened dispensary, Downtown FLWR, on Newark Avenue is up the street from various children daycares and medical offices. Yet, the city has not seen a negative impact on children or families.”
Jerly Marquez, the owner of the “Hair is Happiness” kids’ salon, still argues the dispensary would increase traffic and expose kids to cannabis smoke, although it’s not apparent how, since state law prohibits smoking in public.
Sugar Magnolia’s application is compliant with the city’s cannabis regulations that says dispensaries must be at least 200 feet from any schools in the city’s “Drug Free” map. Kumer also said the city’s zoning officer and health department certified its compliance.
“We would not even be able to apply for a local license if the location did not comply with those requirements,” Kumer said. “For those who have complaints with the law, I would encourage that they focus that energy to the (city) council that approves such laws.”
Jillian Hernandez, the owner of The Brunswick School and also opposed to the dispensary, argued that the city should follow stricter federal cannabis laws, a request that’s in opposition to the current state cannabis laws, namely the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization, or CREAAM Act.
“My main responsibility is to keep our children and staff safe and healthy,” Hernandez said. “I know that cannabis was legalized, but it’s still a drug, right? We’re selling drugs across the street from a park and a school and I just don’t see how that makes any sense for Jersey City and the community.”
Even if The Brunswick School were counted as one of the schools on the “Drug Free” map, the dispensary would be more than 200 feet away — and in compliance with city law.
When asked if and how Sugar Magnolia could convince the neighborhood that it would be good partners, Kumer said the business has “a lot of support within the neighborhood; folks are looking forward to us opening. Additionally, we have an expansive community impact plan that gives back directly to the Hamilton Park Neighborhood not only immediately, but in perpetuity,” Kumer said.
The city’s cannabis board will convene Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. at the Melissa Holloway Building at 4 Jackson Square.