The local social equity owned Xena Dispensary held a Grand Opening in McGinley Square in Jersey City after overcoming many hurdles as they plan a consumption lounge.
Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman and Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz Arey were there for the ribbon cutting. They were happy to celebrate his opening.
As they prepared to cut the ribbon, they enjoyed themselves.
Xena Dispensary Opening Party
“I decided to take a chance and open a dispensary and hopefully a consumption lounge here in Jersey City,” Xena Dispensary owner Haytham Elgawly explained.
He said he wanted to create a community-oriented place. Haytham added that he went to school and played basketball nearby.
“It means a lot to be here and to have the community engaged,” he declared.
“As a small business owner, it’s been a crazy struggle over three years to get this open,” Haytham noted.
“I know this was a very long, hard arduous road for you. It is so great to be here to see this…,” Prinz Arey said. “But it so great to see this investment in the city, particularly in my ward.”
She noted that Haytham has given back to the community over the years. Haytham explained he often gives out free turkeys on Thanksgiving as charity.
Greek-Themed Dispensary
Watterman asked how he chose the name.
Haytham explained that “Xenia” means hospitality in Greek.
“The Greeks had a set of rules for ritualized friendship where hosted are supposed to treat guests a certain way… supposed to give you something to eat, give you a place to stay and in return, you’re supposed to be reciprocating that same energy,” he noted.
References to cannabis can be found in ancient Greek myth and history.
“We have a great selection of flower, pre-rolls, edibles, a bunch of cannabis products and something for everyone,” Haytham added.
He said they will launch a delivery service soon.
“Welcome to the neighborhood!” Watterman declared.
“We’re super excited baby let’s go!” Haytham exclaimed.
Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh joined the party a little late.
They were among the cannabis grant winners helped by the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJ-EDA). NJ-EDA Chief Community Development Officer Tai Cooper was on hand to promote Xena dispensary as a program success.
Haytham said that Jersey City Mayor and 2025 Democratic candidate for Governor Steve Fulop couldn’t make it due to last-minute campaign issues.
Initially, it was going to be called Medusa because Medusa got men stoned. But they had copyright issues. So, it was changed to Xena to keep the Greek theme Haytham likes.
Well Decorated Dispensary
Their inside was decorated with a Greek theme. (Check the video below which works!)
The place has great Greek art and statues of some of the famous Gods, Goddesses, and heroes decorating the place.
Xena Dispensary features a bud bar with cannabis you can see and smell and a terpenes guide to appreciate different types of cannabis bud flower.
Notably, the men’s room design resembles that of a night club with a Greek mural of a lady holding a weed leaf. It really shows the thought and care that went into it.
Planning a Cannabis Consumption Longe
The stairs down to the lounge light up as you walk down them. The lounge was decorated to be like a nightclub.
Bango Elyon and the award-winning Niche, MPX, and Garden Greens (not to be confused with the downtown Jersey City dispensary Garden Greenz) were among the many brands tabling in the lounge area.
Haytham explained he already applied for consumption lounge permission this past January 20205 as a Social Equity applicant with the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC).
He said the CRC is eager to help him open as a legal social equity legacy to legal owned consumption lounge.
However, Haytham noted that since the Jersey Cannabis Control Board (CCB) is not functioning, it is a problem for rolling out the lounge.
He has been planning a lounge since spring 2022, when the Planning Board approved his dispensary and consumption lounge.
Like others, he had to break apart the two parts, and open as a dispensary first.
Fighting the Catholic Church and Winning
Haytham fought St. Peter’s University, which has been growing for his right to open. They said he could not have a dispensary by their new dorm because it was too close to a school and sued them to stop.
But “school” in NJ law is defined as grades K-12.
The lawsuit took a while to resolve. Noted cannabis attorney Rosemarie Moyeno Matos got him through the three-year battle.
Haytham was approved by the CCB in July 2022 after multiple meetings due to opposition from St Peter’s University.
Xena Dispensary Ownership Background
He is an Egyptian American who went to Dickinson High School since he is a lifelong resident.
Haytham is a serial entrepreneur. He said his clothing store, the Clearport, has been next door to the dispensary’s location in McGinley Square for 10 years.
Xena dispensary won its conversion to an annual dispensary license needed to open in June 2023. They won their initial conditional license in Sept 2022 from the NJCRC.
The City Council approved them in September 2022.
Xena Dispensary was approved for an ownership change by the NJCRC at their April meeting.
Haytham was featured at a Heady NJ event in Sept 2022 as a conditional license winner.
Chris Broderick of Legacy to Lifted dispensary, Max Maxemous of Urbn dispensary, Rui of Garden State of Mind, and Blank Canvas pre-rolls were on hand to celebrate the success.
Haytham is planning his annual Very Potent JC cannabis festival on Saturday, 4/19, since Sunday, 4/20/2025, is Easter.
Xena dispensary might not be the only dispensary in the area for long. Also, intoxicating hemp smoke shops remain a problem in the city and state for dispensary owners.
