Raekwon’s proposal for a New Jersey cannabis lounge was rejected after facing objections from local church members. Many churchgoers raised concerns about the proposed lounge in the community.
According to an NJ.com report, the application for a New Jersey cannabis lounge proposed by Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon was denied after objections were raised by a local church.
The Church Speaks
The “Ice Cream” rapper had hoped to establish the lounge in Newark, N.J., to promote his cannabis brand — Hashtoria. However, the plan faced opposition from members of Old First Presbyterian Church, which cited concerns about the impact of the lounge on the community.
The church would have been across from the proposed lounge on Broad Street in Newark.
“We’re not against people smoking marijuana if they want to,” Rev. Glaspy said. “But they can put it somewhere else.”
The church’s objections were considered by Newark’s Central Planning Board, which ultimately rejected the application for the cannabis lounge.
“I pray that you will put this somewhere else,” Rev. Doris Glaspy said during the Planning Board’s meeting on Zoom on March 27. A new location for the cannabis lounge had not been confirmed by press time.
Meanwhile, another hip-hop artist who has also entered the cannabis business is Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, who started his cannabis brand 93 Boyz in August 2022.
In March, rappers T.I., Moneybagg Yo, Soulja Boy, and Lil Durk partnered with tobacco brand Cignature to each have their own flavored hemp wraps, which customers can purchase for cannabis use.
Diddy To Create World’s Largest Black-Owned Cannabis Company
In November 2022, rap mogul Diddy made a purchase through Cresco labs and is set to be the owner of the largest Black-owned cannabis company. Diddy purchased three medical licensing medical operations in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois.