Atlantic City's mayor has never been a fan of marijuana, he says.
But he happily welcomed a new source of tax revenue Monday, as he cut the ribbon on the third cannabis dispensary since sales became legal.
"On behalf of the great city of Atlantic City, we wish you guys nothing but luck and, more importantly, we look forward to the tax revenue and the jobs that this is going to produce," Mayor Marty Small said outside Legal Distribution.
Lou Freedman has long wanted to open a cannabis business, he told BreakingAC.
"Legalize Marinara," shirts at his Bocca Coal Fired Bistro in Margate cheekily read.
The Margate resident has lifelong ties to Atlantic City. He graduated from the old high school on Albany Avenue in 1978.
His father, Josh Freedman, owned the sandwich shop across the street. The Great Josh's was a popular hangout for most high-schoolers back in the, even during school hours.
Now Lou Freedman and his three partners have a different kind of offering at 3112 Atlantic Ave.
He walked the mayor through one of the automated kiosks in front of the building. Small looked around sheepishly as Freedman worked the screen.
"I'm good," the mayor replied. "I'm not a customer."
Freedman is partnered with Rashon White, Jason Lantz and Holly Pugh.
White and Lantz both also went to Atlantic City High School. In fact, Lantz is now the girls basketball coach at the high school.
"It's kind of like owning a bar now," Freedman said of a coach being a partner in a cannabis dispensary.
White, who also went to Pleasantville schools, now lives in Egg Harbor Township and works as a bartender in his "other" life.
Neither Lantz nor Pugh was at the opening.
Pugh, who lives in Absecon, was at Sugar Hill in Mays Landing, where she is also an owner, Freedman said.
She also is the wife of Brian Pugh, who was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for his role in the multimillion-dollar health benefits scheme. He is currently in a halfway facility, where his release date is Oct. 4.
He had to forfeit $437,604 he made in the scheme, and must repay the $1.4 million his role cost the system. It was not clear if the couple's finances are separate, but she did pay $75,000 to buy him out of the home they bought for $500,000, BreakingAC previously reported.
Freedman said he was not familiar with her finances, but noted that Brian Pugh admitted his wrongdoing and is serving his time.
Meanwhile, the new business is looking to thrive, with a plethora offerings, including shirts that bear the business' name.
There is also free parking behind the Walgreens nearby.
Small said the cannabis industry is growing a little slower than he had hoped, but he has high expectations.
"Any time that we open up a business here in the great city of Atlantic City, it contributes to our business community, it contributes to our ratables, it's taking an eyesore and rehabbing it into a nice business," he said. "I'm not a fan of cannabis. Never smoked, never will. However, it's not about me. It's about giving people business opportunities. It's about creating another revenue stream for our taxpayers and I'm here for it."
He said there are no numbers on how many dispensaries the city will allow. Small was also hesitant to talk about any new ones in the works.
"Just because a business gets city approval, CRDA approval and state approval doesn't mean that they will ever open," he said. "So we just got to keep providing opportunities and give them a chance, and not be the ones to be the bearer of bad news on the local levels."
