Monmouth Co. Smoke Shop In Trouble Again; Sold Marijuana, Hashish: PD

ASBURY PARK, NJ — A popular Asbury Park smoke shop is yet again in trouble with the state:

The owners of Wacky Tobaccy on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park are charged with illegally selling marijuana and hashish, Wall Township Police announced Thursday.

Ronald Slack, 38, of Beachwood, and Michael Attianese, 36, of Asbury Park, the owners of Wacky Tobaccky, were arrested and each charged with distribution of marijuana (more than 25 pounds of it), distribution of hashish (over 5 grams), possession of hashish (over 17 grams), possession of marijuana, distribution of toxic chemicals and a disorderly persons offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The two men also own a Wacky Tobaccy shop in Wall Township.

Both stores were selling “substantial amounts” of marijuana, including raw cannabis, edibles and liquid cannabis beverages, said police. Wacky Tobaccy is not a licensed marijuana dispensary; it is only a smoke shop.

This is the same shop that was fined $4,500 from the state in 2024 for selling flavored tobacco vape pens, which are illegal in New Jersey as health officials say they are marketed to children, pre-teens and teens.

Police started doing an undercover surveillance of both Wacky Tobaccy shops this spring after someone tipped off authorities that the stores were illegally selling marijuana and hashish.

Both shops were raided this spring and drugs, drug materials and cash were seized. Slack and Attianese may face further charges, said Wall Police. Wall Township Police also impounded a vehicle belonging to Slack.

The NJ Treasury Department will also impose additional fines due to Wacky Tobaccy's failure to pay required taxes, and will mandate restitution for untaxed products, said police.

Prior on Wacky Tobaccy: Asbury Park Smoke Shop Illegally Sold Flavored Tobacco, State Says (2024)