Jersey City recently raided smoke shops they called illegal while their licensed cannabis policy is unclear.

According to the City, their Quality of Life Task Force conducted a targeted enforcement operation on Saturday, March 9^th. It led to four arrests, 14 summonses issued, multiple city code violations, and the confiscation of over 13 pounds of marijuana and thousands of untaxed tobacco products.

According to the city’s spokesperson, they were following up on complaints from community members.

“Anyone trying to circumvent the system and illegally sell products is not only breaking the law but also risking public safety while taking business away from legitimate establishments that comply with regulations,” said Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

The city said it is part of their broader crackdown on unlicensed cannabis operators, illegal smoke shops, and other establishments operating outside the law.  The city remains committed to upholding regulations that protect residents and support legitimate businesses.

The sweep included site visits to salons, smoke shops, and barbershops.

The Jersey City Police Department led the operation. They worked with state, county, and city agencies, including the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office, Code Compliance, Health and Human Services, Building, Zoning, and the Office of Emergency Management.

There are many unique smoke shops providing weed in the city and State that have been operating for some time.

The Quality of Life Task Force targeted establishments identified as “problematic” following numerous complaints from community members that the multi-departmental Quality of Life Unit investigated. 

The locations were as follows: 

734 West Side Avenue – “Chill Town Smoke Shop”

• The unlicensed smoke shop was shut down.
• Nearly 9 pounds of marijuana and over 400 pieces of untaxed tobacco were confiscated. 
• One arrest:
  • Business owner Danial Wagner
• Summonses issued:
  • Illegal operation of cannabis retail establishment
  • Operating without a food license
  • Unlicensed sale of flavored vapes
  • Untaxed tobacco products

305 MLK Drive – “Neighborhood Dollar Store”

• Approximately 4 pounds of marijuana were recovered.
• The unlicensed business was shut down.

• Two arrests:
  • Business owner Alquan Scott
  • Store employee Hassan Holland had an active warrant out of Jersey City.
• Summonses issued:
  • Unlicensed smoke shop
  • Illegal retail of cannabis 

233 MLK Drive – “Maoze Smoke Shop”

• One arrest:
  • Abdourahim A. Nahwi
• Summonses issued:
  • Unlicensed smoke shop (x2)
  • Animal on site (x2)
  • Interference with health (x2)
  • Sale of flavored vapes
  • Sale of loose cigarettes
  • Possession of untaxed goods
  • Failure to maintain records
  • Failure to pay tax on tobacco products
  • Possession of over 2000 cigarettes without NJ Stamp (4th degree crime)
  • Failure to properly register with the Division of Taxation
  • Failure to display business registration

743 West Side Avenue- “G Spot Smoke Shop”

• Summons issued:
  • Notice of violation for sale of flavored vapes

According to the city, during the sweep, each business was provided with the paperwork to obtain the legal licenses required to operate.

New Jersey is trying to crack down on the loopholes allowing smoke shops across the state to sell synthetic intoxicating hemp. A bill was passed to heavily regulate hemp. But a lawsuit challenged that. The hemp companies that launched it and the State have said they are negotiating after the companies appealed the initial decision.

While raiding smoke shops, Jersey City does not have a functioning Cannabis Control Board (CCB), clear policies on distance between dispensaries, or a cap on dispensaries.

Key members of the CCB resigned from the volunteer position recently. So, Cannabis Board meetings have not been occurring.

Sources told Heady NJ there were issues with personnel and policies with City Hall favoring certain applicants.

The owner of a recently opened dispensary said they were told by the City’s Department of Commerce they could open and come back for when they meet next at an unknown date in the future.

The Jersey City Council said months ago it would cap the number of dispensaries. But that ordinance was tabled last year after dispensary owners protested their compromise. It remains tabled.

A cap would limit the competition between dispensaries which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to open their doors and have to pay a lot of federal taxes.

But license caps are difficult. If you say you want to cap them, the second to last dispensary applicant will do a lot to keep out the last dispensary. Usually, companies that are closer to large Multi-State Operators (MSOs) have the resources to dominate a capped cannabis license process at the expense of those who got caught, small business people, minorities, and women usually.

There are several Jersey City dispensaries open already:

1. Ript
2. Garden Greenz
3. The Cannabis Place 420
4. Downtown Flwr
5. 1634 Funk
6. Uforia
7. Golden Door Dispensary
8. The Other Side Dispensary
9. Leaf Joint
10. CREAM Cannabis Dispensary
11. Bay Street Greenery
12. MMD NJ
13. Blossom
14. Legacy to Lifted
15. Xena NJ

In addition, the Hazy Harvest dispensary has said it will be open by 4/20 next month. Others, like Benedict’s Supply and Jersey Leaf, are also planning to open soon. Forty-eight dispensaries have been approved by the City Council to open.

The lack of cap was explained by Fulop as a way to avoid the sort of Jersey-style shady, backroom deals that have occurred, which Heady NJ is very eager to expose.

The catch about Jersey is that shady things are not always illegal.

While the CCB did approve dispensaries owned by Hudson County Clerk Junior Maldonado, the daughter of the City Council President Joyce Watterman, and Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker, only the first one has opened.

A spokesperson for the city did not answer questions about Jersey City’s cannabis policies or the Cannabis Control Board.

Notably, a couple of cannabis job fairs were held before there were many dispensaries to help locals get jobs. But now that many are open, none have been held, and it seems the city has changed its policy.

Despite the raids, Jersey City remains one of the most pro-licensed cannabis cities in the State, with no cap on licenses and in favor of consumption lounges.

Fulop is running to be the Democratic nominee to be Governor in the June 10^th primary. According to cannabis activist Chris Goldstein, he favors legalizing home grow of weed while Governor Phil Murphy (D) does not seem to be.