Atlantic City Nuns Lose Battle Against Nearby Cannabis Dispensary

Despite concerns about crime and community impact, city officials see the cannabis industry as a key economic driver.

Catholic nuns in Atlantic City, New Jersey, have lost their fight against the opening of a cannabis dispensary just 150 feet from their convent.
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) approved the dispensary, despite the nuns' concerns about increased crime and the impact on their community meetings, including those for teenagers and sobriety groups.
Mayor Marty Small Jr. and the city's cannabis czar, Kashawn 'Kash' McKinley, view the cannabis industry as a powerful economic engine for Atlantic City, aiming to make it the 'East Coast hub for cannabis'.
New Jersey law does not prohibit cannabis dispensaries from opening near religious sites, unlike the restrictions in place for schools.
This is the second time the CRDA has approved a cannabis business in Atlantic City despite objections from religious groups.