The underground legacy operator Buds Bus was busted in North Jersey in West Milford in Passaic County.
They had been operating openly for some time. Locals had become upset and notified the town council.
Buds Bus had been operating multiple buses in different locations. According to their website, they had buses stationed at five permanent locations in different communities in West Milford Township.
According to NorthJersey.com, it was operated by New Yorkers Jennifer and William Schlette of West Nyack in Rockland County next to Bergen County in Jersey.
Passaic County worked with other NJ counties and the State of New York police to bust them. The cops got $200,000 and several pounds of cannabis.
West Milford is home to a few legal dispensaries like Soul Flora and Doobiez, among others, due to their libertarian-leaning town council, where cannabis activist Michael Chazukow, a Republican, won a seat.
Underground Legacy Buds Bus Operating Openly
Buds Bust was not trying to operate under the radar. In fact, they have a Facebook page with about 3,100 followers. Like other businesses, they promoted special deals for the cannabis holiday 4/20, as well as Easter.
Their website insists they do not sell cannabis. In fact, they have an online menu with six options for different cannabis products.
While keeping some busses at certain locations, others were supposed to be available for parties while other locations were more temporary.
Those concerned about the underage consumption of cannabis will be happy to know they said they check IDs to ensure everyone is 21 and up.
It was not their first run-in with law enforcement.
Gifting Loophole Closed
They were trying to operate via a “gifting” loophole. The idea was that if you bought something minor, you could then be “gifted” the weed.
However, the State has made it clear they don’t believe that. But there was a time when even local mainstream news thought gifting was legal.
A lot of license holders will be happy at such news. Some feel that the legacy operators cut into the cannabis market profits that should be theirs.
On the other hand, those sympathetic to underground legacy operators might see this as oppressive.
In New Jersey, local authorities have been leading the charge against legacy operators.
Some are more passionate than others.
