The New Secaucus Marijuana Dispensary Plans To Open This Summer

SECAUCUS, NJ — The latest marijuana dispensary to open in Secaucus, located at 30 Wood Avenue, plans to open this summer.

It may be the end of June or July, a representative from the company told Patch Friday. They need to get final approval from the state before opening. The pot shop is called Illicit Gardens and they announced here on their website they are planning a summer opening.

Illicit Gardens is located directly behind Meadowlands Plaza hotel and La Reggia. The owner owns and operates other pot dispensaries in the area: La Vida Gardens in Belleville, Cannavibes in Elmwood Park and is planning a second Illicit Gardens to open in Carlstadt.

Once it opens, this will be the only marijuana dispensary currently located in Secaucus. Another pot store, Floro Secaucus, expressed interest opening in town, but has since backed out, Mayor Mike Gonnelli said Friday.

Floro sought to open either in or near the existing pet cremation business across the street from 500 Castle Road. It does not appear Floro ever obtained their license from the state.

Once it opens, Illicit Gardens will sell retail marijuana to anyone 18+; it will not just be medical marijuana. They do not have a license to grow marijuana on site. Illicit purchased all the assets and the Class-5 marijuana license from Harmony, the dispensary that used to be open at 500 Castle Road but then suddenly closed in 2023, admits infighting between the owners, allegations they were diverting money to a cannabis business in Israel and allegations they were $30 million in debt.

Harmony actually did have a license from the state to grow marijuana on site, not Illicit did not purchase the grow license from them. They are only permitted to sell marijuana, not grow it.

Illicit uses Harmony’s cultivating and manufacturing facility in Lafayette, Sussex County, NJ.com previously reported.

The town of Secaucus used to only allow marijuana to be sold in the area around where Harmony was located on Castle Road. In fact, the town passed an ordinance making it illegal for marijuana to be sold in Secaucus except in five lots centered around 500 Castle Road.

But in 2024, the town Council took a majority vote to expand where pot stores can open in town, after Illicit expressed interest in renting the unused building at 30 Wood Avenue.

Gonnelli continues to say a pot store will bring in a lot of tax revenue.

“I hope they make a lot of money, and a lot of tax dollars for us,” said Gonnelli Friday of the impending opening.

The two zones where marijuana can be sold in Secaucus:

The five lots around 30 Wood Avenue (It does not include the strip mall where Subway is located, nor does it include the Wendy’s area.)And the five lots around and across the street from 500 Castle Road

The town of Secaucus established a Secaucus Cannabis Board, which will monitor how Illicit Gardens operates. Town administrator Gary Jeffas, Police Chief Dennis Miller and the town lawyer sit on that board. The town of Secaucus will only allow two marijuana businesses to operate at one time.