In Atlantic City, New Jersey, a contentious development highlights the city’s push to become the East Coast’s premier cannabis destination, pitting economic ambitions against community concerns. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), the agency steering the tourism district’s planning, recently approved two cannabis dispensaries, one alarmingly close to the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal Convent on Mississippi Avenue. This decision follows a pattern of prioritizing cannabis enterprises, including indoor marijuana farms, a dispensary in a repurposed church, and Amsterdam-style cannabis lounges.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. and Kashawn “Kash” McKinley, the city’s leading cannabis entrepreneur, champion these ventures as vital for Atlantic City’s rejuvenation, promising jobs and new investments. “My focus is to make Atlantic City great, to make Atlantic City the East Coast hub for cannabis,” McKinley expressed. Their vision aligns with New Jersey’s broader legislative landscape, pushing for cannabis legalization and economic growth.
However, this ambitious agenda has been met with staunch opposition from local religious communities. The Franciscan Sisters, known for their educational and sobriety programs, including those for young individuals, fear that the dispensary’s proximity could escalate crime and hinder recovery efforts for those battling addiction. Sister Joseph Van Munster, leveraging her experiences from the Netherlands, where marijuana is legal, voiced these concerns during a November hearing.
The Chelsea Baptist Church also faced a similar struggle, voicing objections to a dispensary near their premises last summer, only to be disregarded by the CRDA. Pastor Tom Weer expressed disappointment in the board’s approach, which seemed to favor areas around casinos over other community locales.
The CRDA’s decisions reflect a complex challenge facing many American cities: balancing economic development and community welfare. While the board has been keen on cannabis-related proposals, its actions have consistently overlooked the worries of religious institutions. This has led to a growing discourse about the societal impact of cannabis businesses, especially in areas with existing substance abuse issues.
The situation in Atlantic City serves as a microcosm of a larger national debate, where the outcomes of cannabis legalization are scrutinized for their broader societal implications. As the city moves towards becoming the state’s most densely populated cannabis city per capita, the tension between economic promise and community health continues to simmer, raising critical questions about the future of urban development and social responsibility.
