Cannabis Industry Growing In Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — As more and more communities are opting in to selling legalized recreational marijuana, Atlantic City has decided to set itself as a hub for the industry.

"Atlantic City is positioning itself as the East Coast Hub for Cannabis," said Kashawn McKinley, Director of Constituent Services and Special Projects for Atlantic City.

"The City of Atlantic City wants to utilize this new cannabis industry as an addition to what we already have to offer," he said.

Atlantic City wants to use marijuana sales to increase tourism. The city is an impact zone, which under the new state cannabis law gives it priority for certain cannabis licenses, plus resources and funding from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Right now in Atlantic City, the only dispensaries are The Botanist and MPX New Jersey, and both are authorized for medicinal cannabis only. However, the city wants that to change. MPX NJ is also in the process of licensing for recreational at its medicinal location.

City Council banned cannabis retail sales on the Boardwalk, and its casinos fall under the federal cannabis ban as its owners and operators are not all in New Jersey.

A recent City Council meeting had the passage of several resolutions regarding cannabis in AC. These resolutions supported cannabis businesses by Aponte Realty LLC, Atlantic Cultivators LLC and Pudas Pot, Inc., plus supporting and licensing MPX NJ. At an April meeting, even more cannabis businesses were supported by the council.

As the casino industry recovers from the pandemic, Atlantic City is poised to make its name known and use cannabis to improve the city. Recreational cannabis sales earned $24 million in its first month, officials said.

"The cannabis industry will heighten and elevate the overall Atlantic City experience," McKinley said.