Somerville, NJ Considers Allowing Marijuana Dispensary at Exxon Station
The owner and operator of over 75 convenience stores and gas stations in the tri-state area has proposed opening a marijuana dispensary at the site of an Exxon station on Route 22 and North Bridge Street in Somerville. The location is a block away from Somerville High School, which has raised concerns among local officials.
Mayor Brian Gallagher expressed his concerns about the proximity of the dispensary to the high school, saying that kids are “pretty ingenious” and could potentially find ways to access the store. However, Kinesava, the company behind the proposal, has assured that everyone entering the store will be checked and verified by security personnel, and there will be extensive video surveillance both inside and outside the building.
Kinesava, which is named after a mountain in Utah, plans to build a pyramid-like structure at the site after demolishing the gas station and removing the gas tanks. The company, which owns and operates one other cannabis dispensary in New York, will hire a consultant to guide it through the approval process with the state Cannabis Control Commission and another consultant to help establish the operation and hire experienced managers and employees.
If approved, Kinesava would be the second Route 22 gas station in Somerville to become a cannabis dispensary. The borough’s Planning Board has already given preliminary approval to another proposal to convert a Sunoco gas station into a dispensary.
