By: Follow South Jersey Staff
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Recreational cannabis will be available starting today in Atlantic City after Mayor Mary Small, Sr. signed on Wednesday, April 19, a business license allowing MPX New Jersey, LLC to become the first recreational cannabis dispensary in the city.
“Cannabis has been a topic in Atlantic City since I was a Council President, and at the time, because I’m not a user, I was close minded on the issue,” Mayor Small said at a press conference. “But this is about the greater good in the City of Atlantic City, and that’s relief for our taxpayers. This is yet another ratable for our taxpayers. It’s a new business, it’s new construction. It’s showing that people are invested in the great City of Atlantic City. We’re being proactive about this. We have to take a chance.”
In anticipation of making Atlantic City a cannabis destination, Mayor Small formed a Cannabis Review Board consisting of his Director of Constituent Services Kashawn “Kash” McKinley, City Councilwoman Stephanie Marshall, Assistant City Solicitor Karl Timbers, the city’s Director of Licensing and Inspection Dale Finch, the city’s Director of Planning and Development Jacques Howard and Create 48 owner Zach Katzen.
“What got us here is not what’s going to keep us here,” said McKinley. “We have a lot of hard work to do, but this is another step in the right direction to making Atlantic City the East coast’s cannabis hub, which is our goal. It starts with leadership, which starts with the mayor. His vision is all about setting a standard, and cannabis is no different. This is yet another platform Atlantic City can be proud of.”
MPX NJ, located at 153 S. New York Avenue, opens for adult use recreational cannabis sales on Thursday, April 20 at 11 a.m. They will be offering discounts and special promotions.
“This is a monumental moment for us, not only because this is our first adult-use dispensary, but the first in Atlantic City,” said MPX NJ General Manager Janine Ratliff. “We look forward to continuing serving Atlantic City safe, legal, quality cannabis.”
In September, City Council unanimously approved an ordinance adopting a plan for a Green Zone redevelopment area that includes Atlantic and Pacific Avenues from Maryland to Boston Avenues, and the Orange Loop. The Green Zone encourages economic growth in this section by identifying it as a preferred area for certain cannabis sales.
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