Cannabis Dispensary Updates
As you may know, in 2020, New Jersey voters participated in a statewide referendum on legalizing cannabis. State-wide, 2,737,746 voters voted yes (67%), and 1,343,637 (33%) voted no, and over 70% of Hoboken residents supported legalization. In the wake of this vote, the State allowed cities like Hoboken to decide whether to permit medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries in their respective municipalities.
During the process of determining whether to allow cannabis dispensaries in Hoboken, the City Council enacted legislation that would only allow medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries in specific, designated areas of the city. Numerous cities in New Jersey and New York State have done so as well.
Through this process, all my council colleagues provided input as to which areas of Hoboken should - and should not - be permitted to have cannabis dispensaries. The Council concluded that dispensaries should be allowed only in zoned commercial districts in the City, which included most areas of Washington Street, 14th Street, 1st Street, and the area surrounding the PATH station. The ordinance, and subsequent amendments, outlined specific requirements for dispensaries.
These include:
- Dispensaries must be approved by the Hoboken Cannabis Review Board and Hoboken Planning Board, and receive licensing approval with the State.
- A minimum distance of 500 feet between dispensaries
- Dispensaries cannot be located on the same block as schools
- Maximum hours of operation between 8 am and 10 pm
- Requirements for odor mitigation equipment, including ventilation systems with carbon filters for the cannabis inventory stored at dispensaries
- New Jersey state law requires the facility to follow security protocols approved by the Hoboken Police Department
With the support of every Council member, all four ordinances and amendments (page 838), which included permitted locations, that deal with medical and retail cannabis dispensaries in Hoboken passed unanimously 9-0.
Any dispensary must currently remain as a retail location, rather than a place where cannabis can be consumed within the facility or on the property outdoors. An applicant or dispensary cannot yet submit an application for consumption (also known as a lounge application) as this has not yet been approved by the State for local dispensaries. According to Hoboken’s ordinance, even when on-site consumption is allowed by the State, any dispensary must be approved by the Mayor's office, the City Council, the Planning Board, and the Cannabis Review Board. Currently, two dispensaries are approved for medical use.
Recent application before the Cannabis Review Board
The Cannabis Review Board recently received an application for approval to open a cannabis dispensary at what was previously the Hudson Tavern, at 14th and Hudson, within what Hoboken zoning considers to be within a commercial district (C-3).
Here are some clarifications about this recent application:
- As mentioned above, the City Council unanimously approved permitted dispensary locations, including 14th Street, by a vote of 9-0. Each Ward Councilperson was provided the opportunity to suggest certain areas of their Wards that should, and should not have dispensaries.
- The current application for a cannabis dispensary is for retail only. A consumption/lounge license was not requested by the applicant, and would not be considered. In the event of approval, only retail sales of cannabis will be permitted, no consumption will be allowed on site.
- The Cannabis Review Board review is not the final approval of this application. The application must also be heard by the Planning Board at a later date.
The Cannabis Review Board secured the following conditions for approval of the application as a result of feedback from the community:
- The applicant has agreed to a deed restriction that prohibits any consumption/lounging on site, for the duration of its operation.
- The applicant has agreed to fund the salary of an additional police officer for the duration of the business.
- Donation of $50,000 per year to Hoboken's Affordable Housing Trust Fund
- Annual cannabis education program for Hoboken residents
Accordingly, if the dispensary is approved by the Planning Board, the city will receive 2% of the revenue from the sale of cannabis, with 75% allocated to advancing restorative justice in Hoboken.
Cannabis Zoning Amendments and Ordinance Prohibiting Smoking Cannabis in Parks
Based on feedback from the community, Wednesday evening, Hoboken’s City Council passed on first reading amendments to the Cannabis ordinance, which will require dispensaries to be at least 600 feet from schools and prohibited from being located directly next to early childhood education facilities, limit the total number of dispensaries to six in the City (where there was no limit) and three per Ward, prohibit new medical and recreational dispensaries from the Commercial C-3 zone (which includes Washington Street North of 8th Street, 1st Street west of Bloomfield Street, 14th Street, and all commercial districts in the 5th Ward) – and requiring all applications before the Cannabis Review Board to notice neighbors who live within 200 feet before the CRB’s meeting. I also sponsored an ordinance to prohibit the smoking of cannabis in our City parks and recreation fields, just as alcohol consumption is prohibited. My parks ordinance unanimously passed on first reading.
Addressing an Unsafe Intersection at 9th Street near ShopRite
A few weeks ago, a constituent emailed me about a dangerous parking condition at 9th Street between Madison & Monroe and ShopRite’s delivery trucks.
She wrote:
We live on the East corner of 9th & Monroe, and I see daily trucks either getting stuck, which then holds up traffic on Monroe St., hitting parked cars, or even better yet, going up on the sidewalk and nearly hitting what was once a dry cleaner's awning.
This week, she sent the following update:
Hello Councilman, I want to thank you for acting on fixing the parking situation on 9th St., between Madison & Monroe. There have been no incidents in recent weeks with trucks having difficulty turning. Greatly appreciate your swift action to my concern.
Thanks to the resident who brought this condition to my attention and thanks to members of Mayor Bhalla’s administration, including Transportation and Parking Director Ryan Sharp, City Engineer Olga Garcia, Transportation Planner Greg Francese, Supervisor of Traffic Maintenance Chris Willis and Lt. Keith Rotondi of the Hoboken Police Dept, who were integral to the implementation of these modifications.
I’m pleased we could promptly address this significant unsafe condition with the Mayor’s office, affecting parked cars and residents at this busy 5th Ward intersection near the Shop-Rite. If you have any public safety, transportation, or parking concerns, please email me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com so I can try and assist.
Mayor’s State of the City Address
Monday evening Mayor Bhalla delivered the State of the City address, in which he detailed many of the City’s major accomplishments in the past year. I am proud of the people of Hoboken and our leadership in City Hall for accomplishing so much during the pandemic as we now emerge from the COVID State of Emergency, and I encourage you to check out the Mayor’s review of the State of our City here.
I fully support the vision that Mayor Bhalla detailed in his speech to move forward with 10 acres of new public parks, upgrades to Hoboken’s water main infrastructure, flood resiliency infrastructure, and creating a new, public safety facility, a modern Department of Public Works garage, and a new community center and uptown Library branch facility in the North End of the 5th Ward.
COVID-19 Updates
Over 6.7 million New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated with over 14.3 million doses administered in New Jersey, as of March 10th. As of March 5th, Hoboken’s positive test results total 9,920 cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic. Two weeks ago, there were 9,737 positive cases.
New Jersey’s transmission rate is presently at .84. Please stay vigilant, practice social distancing when necessary, wash your hands, and stay safe.
HUMC is now hospitalizing 1 person with COVID. If you have any reason to believe you have been exposed to COVID, please quarantine and then schedule an appointment for a COVID test 5-7 days for those fully vaccinated and immediately for those unvaccinated after potential exposure. To find out when you should get tested, click here.
COVID Testing Updates
To get the current Hoboken COVID testing and hours click here.
Free Testing for Hoboken Residents and Business Employees:
601/605 Jackson Street (Administered by Medicine Man)
Date: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Time: 8am - 2pm Tuesday, 4 - 7pm Wed, 8am - 1pm Friday
Location: 601/605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
City MD
City MD at 231 Washington Street also offers COVID-19 tests. You can walk in without an appointment and get tested during regular hours.
At-home testing
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services is offering free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits. To order your kit go to learn.vaulthealth.com/nj. I ordered four free test kits from the federal government for my family, and you can order yours at https://www.covidtests.gov/.
COVID Vaccination News
As of March 10th, nearly 100% of our seniors (65 and older) have received their first dose, and nearly 100% of our seniors are fully vaccinated. Thanks to our seniors for stepping up and protecting themselves and our community!
98% of Hoboken residents 12 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 84% are fully vaccinated.
95% of Hoboken residents 18 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 80% are fully vaccinated.
Nearly 100% of Hoboken residents 30 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 90% are fully vaccinated.
86% of all Hoboken residents have been provided with at least one dose, and 73% are fully vaccinated.
Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken Health Department continue collaborating with local providers to offer a free COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinic this week for Hoboken residents and employees of Hoboken businesses at the following location and times:
Walk-in Vaccination Clinics
Where: 601 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees, Hoboken students
Day: Tuesday
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm (Tuesday)
Vaccine Offered: Pediatric Pfizer, and Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J boosters
Ages: 5-11 (Pfizer Pediatric), 18+ (booster)
Administered By: Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding
To get current Hoboken information on the City’s vaccination and clinic schedules click here as new information is posted daily.
If you are a Hoboken resident and would like a copy of your vaccination record, please contact LMedeiros@hobokennj.gov. Vaccination records are also accessible for all New Jersey residents through the Docket app.
CVS pharmacies in Hoboken Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown locations also supply the COVID-19 vaccine. Walgreens pharmacies in Hoboken Downtown and its two Uptown locations are also supplying the COVID-19 vaccine.
Coffee with Cohen . . . the home edition
Last year, to practice social distancing, rather than eliminate my monthly Coffee with Cohen events, I turned to the internet. For my 51st Coffee with Cohen event Tuesday, I hosted a special guest, Kevin R. Free, the Artistic Director of the Mile Square Theatre.
We discussed the latest season at the Mile Square Theatre, including its latest production The Niceties, opening on March 23rd, and I encourage folks to go get your tickets here. I also addressed many other issues affecting our community and answered questions about unsafe intersections and illegally parked vehicles at 10th and Bloomfield. Over 200 people have watched this event and you can check it out here.
My next Coffee with Cohen event will be in two weeks. I hope to see you there. Do you have any questions? Send them to HobokenPhil@gmail.com as I try to address each one. These events are hosted on my Facebook page Philcohenforcouncil and you can watch them here.
You can always follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. If you have any questions or concerns, or if I can be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com.
Phil Cohen
Hoboken City Councilman
Hoboken, New Jersey
HobokenPhil@gmail.com
(862) 234-9053
P.S. You can learn more about me and my ideas for Hoboken (as well as read this newsletter and my prior newsletters) on my website philcohen.org.
