ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — The first female-owned marijuana dispensary in New Jersey is now open in Atlantic City. Design 710 offers medical marijuana, and the owner hopes eventually to expand with recreational sales and a smoking lounge.
CEO Christine Casile says after her team of interior designers was contracted to create layouts and themes for dispensaries in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the group had a “light-bulb” moment.
“We can do this," she said. "So we applied in 2018 in Pennsylvania and unfortunately we lost. And then the applications opened up in Jersey, and we applied in 2019.”
Casile says it was a long process to get where they are.
“It was 1,296 days from when we applied to the day we opened our doors. ... But we’re successful. A lot of people, you know, don’t get to experience this, so we’re just really happy.”
Casile said it’s almost unbelievable that they were able to design their own store, and it’s been great working with Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his office.
“We always had this idea that we wanted to pay homage to old-time Atlantic City, and then we saw the Claridge [Hotel] did that. We thought: Oh my God this is a great partnership,” she said.
Right now, they have 5,000 square feet next to the Claridge Hotel, but there’s room to expand. Casile is hopeful that they will be approved for recreational marijuana and perhaps a smoking lounge this summer.
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