HRC January Newsletter
Happy New Year and Welcome to the first HRC Newsletter!!
Hoboken for Responsible Cannabis, Inc. (HRC) is happy to launch its website www.hobrc.org. You are receiving this email if you have been involved or closely monitoring the City of Hoboken’s review, location and approval process of the six cannabis dispensaries coming to Hoboken. We have consolidated many email lists, which will help administer the public outreach regarding Hoboken’s cannabis dispensary roll out. Like other websites, you can unsubscribe at any time.
HRC is a non-profit corporation that was organized in response to the city’s lack of study, transparency and public input in the cannabis dispensary implementation process. HRC supports cannabis dispensaries in Hoboken and wants the integration of this new industry to benefit our densely populated community. This newsletter letter will be sent out periodically to inform residents of the status of the dispensaries approved by the city, facilitate fundraising efforts, and announce any “call to action” requests where residents come together to work on specific initiatives.
Currently, HRC has immediate fundraising needs. HRC is the plaintiff in the Blue Violets litigation to continue that effort. In addition, HRC will focus on fundraising for the Condo Association to help move that litigation forward. The Condo Association is made up of a small group of residents who are financially shouldering this effort, and it is a heavy load. Please consider making a contribution. There is a button on the upper right hand corner of our website to make a donation www.hobrc.org.
Last year, we were a group of activists, attending local meetings to voice our concerns, writing letters to the editor, responding to “call to action” requests and contributing financially to the mission. Thank you to everyone involved with this uphill battle. In 2023, those efforts will continue with an emphasis on the state licensing process, pending litigation and tax revenue distribution for social equity purposes. It is already gearing up to be another busy year for HRC.
January Highlights
Story Dispensary (51-53 14th Street) – The Hoboken City Council has given Story its final municipal approval, but the story is not over for Story. Story still needs a state license. HRC is in the process of notifying the state of the pending litigation and the deceptive involvement of political actors, which should pause the state’s decision to issue a license.
The Condo Association litigation continues with a court date later this month to discuss subpoenas that the Condo Association wants to issue and the defendants want to quash. One subpoena is for Raj Mukherji’s testimony. Assemblyman Mukherji represents Hoboken and made his début in this “story” in the last filing of the Condo Association. He appears to be at the center of the business transaction, so it isn’t a surprise that the Condo Association attorneys want to talk to him.
Blue Violets (628 Washington Street) – There has been some movement in the litigation against Blue Violets and the Hoboken Planning Board. On January 3rd, a case management conference convened and a trial date set for March 2nd. There will be more court filings leading up to the trial date from all parties involved. HRC is confident it has a strong and winnable case.
Village (516 Washington Street) – This dispensary hasn’t been as controversial as others and is gearing up to present to the Hoboken Planning Board. In December, this dispensary met with the Planning Board Subdivision and Site Plan Review Committee. We should see it on the Planning Board agenda soon.
CRC Upcoming Meetings – The state Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on January 12th to consider another group of dispensaries for state licensing. Hoboken dispensaries are not on the agenda. https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/about/meetings/
On January 18th at 7 p.m., there will be a state regional meeting to solicit public ideas regarding where the tax revenue should be directed for social equity purposes. Zoom Link HERE.
You may register to speak at the Regional Hearings on Using Tax Revenue for Social Equity here or submit a comment in writing here. The deadline to register to speak is 5 pm on the day before the meeting. The deadline to submit a written comment is 5 p.m. on Friday, January 20.
