The Jersey City Council voted down approval of a consumption lounge for the Other Side dispensary in the Heights in the north of the city, since it closed and owes taxes.
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The Other Side Dispensary CEO, Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, was among those scheduled to speak during the public comment period. But she was not present.
When the resolution came up for a vote, Corporation Counsel Sarah M. Levine said, “There has been recent case law that has emerged in the NJ courts that impresses upon the governing body the importance of sharing your reasons on the record for casting the vote that you will choose to cast.”
“Would you prefer if I was to take a vote on everything… and then go back to it? City Clerk Sean Gallagher asked.
“Sure would, thank you!” Levine replied.
The resolution cites the case Higher Breed NJ LLC v. The City of Burlington Common Council.
Other Side Dispensary Closed & Seeking Consumption Lounge
“I’m proud to support the legal cannabis industry in the city…,” Ward B Councilperson Joel Brooks said. “But I’m going to vote no.”
“Xena in Ward B did invite me for a tour,” he noted. “…Their consumption lounge had cleared all relevant um building permitting…”
“This business seeking the consumption lounge is delinquent on their taxes. There are 6 dispensaries in Ward D that could also apply for this license,” Brooks argued. “That would prevent them from having the opportunity.”
“This is an issue of equity. There are limited licenses citywide, I believe one per ward for consumption area businesses,” Ward C Councilperson Tom Zuppa said.
He also cited delinquent taxes.
“I understand that having this license would be beneficial to them selling their business or otherwise,” Zuppa said. “But given everything before this council, I have to vote no.”
Ward D Councilperson Jake Ephros said he has been in touch with Brevard-Rodriguez.
“I have been hearing her experiences, uh, navigating um the process bot for opening up the dispensary in the first place and also for applying for the consumption area license,” he noted. “I received a story that’s full of a lot of struggles and red tape and frustrations…”
“I’m going to vote aye based on the business owner’s account that has been shared with me over the past many months we’ve been in communication,” Ephros said.
Back Taxes and Unfair Competition Issues
“We were informed at Caucus that the owner does intend to sell this,” Ward E Councilperson Elena Little said. “Since there’s only to be 1 consumption area per ward… we should allow other applicants…”
“It’s just too much uncertainty as it relates to what’s going on,” Ward F Councilperson Frank “Educational” Gilmore said. “Is this owner selling it? Or are they looking for an equity partner? … The taxes are backed…”
“…We are taking … an opportunity from other business owners who can use this license. So this is not fair to other people,” At Large Councilperson Mamta Singh said.
“I understand how unfortunate it is that, um the business owner went through all the red tape…,” At Large Councilperson Michael Griffin noted.
“This business is not a functioning business, nor do they intend to be. They want to use this license to um, attract a buyer,” he added. “There’s 6 other dispensaries in Ward D that could take advantage of this…”
At Large Councilperson Rolando Lavarro asked how much they owe.
Levine didn’t remember what was noted by Commerce Director Maynard Woodson during their Caucus.
“I don’t think he said a number,” Gilmore said. “If they’re recording their revenue, it’s a percentage. So, I don’t think we have the exact number.”
“If someone doesn’t pay their taxes, it’s a no for me immediately,” Lavarro said.
He argued that the same standard should apply to developers and others.
City Council President Denise Ridley also cited tax reasons.
So, the resolution was defeated 1-8, with Ephros voting yes.
The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) previously approved its license and renewal lounge application in March 2026, despite the tax issues, after hearing Brevard-Rodriguez tell her story.
The Other Side Dispensary opened in fall 2024 after first receiving CCB approval in July 2022.
Legal NJ Cannabis Lounges
For all the issues with the legal NJ cannabis industry, the State has pioneered legal consumption lounges ahead of many other legal cannabis states.
There are already open NJ consumption lounges attached to the dispensaries of High Rollers and Sunnytien in Atlantic City, Gynsyng in Merchantville near Philadelphia, and Urb’n in Newark.
