New Jersey gains another cannabis dispensary while Hoboken opens its first store.
In New Jersey, cannabis is legal for both recreational and medical use. The cannabis industry in the state has been slow to develop but a new cannabis dispensary for medical cannabis opened in October 2023 and is the first cannabis dispensary for Hoboken, New Jersey (1).
Known as “The Station”, the medical cannabis dispensary is placed two blocks from the Hoboken train station and is located at River and Newark streets (1). The dispensary hopes to be able to offer recreational cannabis in the future. The Station is owned by Joseph Castelo who also owns the building the dispensary is located in, as well as two other enterprises that reside within the same building (1). The medical cannabis dispensary did not come to fruition overnight, Castelo told The Patch, that it had taken almost 5 years to get The Station up and running due to local and state approvals (1). The Station owner plans to be able to open for recreational used and is waiting on approval from the Hoboken Cannabis Review Board (1).
The decor for the new medical dispensary is inspired by the 1907 Erie Lackawana Train Station not far from the cannabis location (1). It contains antique doors, wood fixtures, and stained glass to bring consumers into a unique and vintage setting. Castelo reported to The Patch (1) that “the railroad is also a metaphor for the cannabis journey.”
On a tour Castello provided on November 20, 2023 he asked (1), “What's your destination?”. He then added, “It could be that you're seeking sleep or calm. Or creativity.”
Before venturing into cannabis, Castelo was a filmmaker. His hope now is for The Station and his other business ventures to benefit one another (1).
Community director of The Station and Sweven, Jawan Robinson told The Patch that, “cannabis customers have come in from all over, particularly from Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken, and New York City. They often stop off during their commute,” (1).
In a November 2023 press release, Castelo said (2), “At The Station, we want to help educate patients and consumers, destigmatize cannabis and celebrate the role intentional cannabis consumption can play in nourishing our bodies, minds and relationships while highlighting the positive role cannabis can and will play in the local community and economy.”
References
Best of the Week: February 7 – February 13, 2025
February 14th 2025Here, we bring you our top five recent news articles covering announcements from the US Hemp Roundtable, the latest cannabis research studies, and additional editorial commentary on the prevalence of schizophrenia after cannabis legalization.
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.