QUEENS (VINnews) — In a few days, a new smoke shop is set to open in the heart of Kew Gardens Hills, and the large Orthodox community is not happy.
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According to local residents, the shop, which will be located on the same Main Street block as the iconic Shimon’s Pizza, Sandwich Bar, and Max and Minna’s, will offer marijuana among its smoking products.
The store will be centrally located in the thriving Orthodox neighborhood, within blocks of hundreds of Jewish homes, shuls, stores, and yeshivas. Needless to say, this is a devastating development for local families.
The Queens Jewish Link newspaper printed a letter about the store, set to open in February.
An excerpt reads, “The Jewish community of Queens will soon be home to a smoke shop that intends to offer marijuana amongst its array of smoking paraphernalia that would presumably include vapes, pipes, bongs, rolling paper, lighters, and the like. The lease is set to begin in just three weeks on February 1 at 71-38 Main Street in the former home of Royal Home Goods…on the block of Shimon’s Pizza, most definitely not an appropriate location for such a window-shop. Yes, anyone will be able to march in and buy pot in our relatively quiet neighborhood.”
The editors responded: “We would like to note that community rabbanim are largely aware of this issue and are placing pressure, as best as they can, to avoid a grand opening. It is also important to note that Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has advocated for this legislation, stating at the time of the legalization: ‘This is a crucial step to elevate communities of color when there were efforts to decriminalize. This is a huge win for the people of New York.’”
“…Tuesday, January 10, Richards’ Cabinet held a meeting providing an update from the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on the recent issuance of the first Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses across the state, including here in Queens.”
The paper continued, “The office of Assembly Member Daniel Rosenthal is weighing all options available to ensure the safety of our community and our children. Current laws are being studied to assess if such a joint can operate within X number of feet from schools, pharmacies (Mazal and Shop-N-Save pharmacies), and places of worship.”
They have nothing to worry about, menthol cigarettes are banned. Keep voting Democrat.
When i owned a bag of marjuna it used to be that the majurna is forbidden now the bag is. Crazy times
What’s the big deal? Just gozeir that it’s asur derabanan unless they install separate seating and counter service.
That location used to be the three O’s Pub where we would stand outside and try to find out baseball scores on Yontiff nights. This is pretty much a non-event and anyone who knows the area knows that anything that there have always been some interesting characters in the large area between Park Drive East and Hillcrest and Union Turnpike and John Bowne High Svhool.
One of the Rabbis in that community has a son who sold drugs and non of the Rabbonim interfered. Is this OU marijuana or will it have Hashgacha of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens? If it is open Shabbos it will need the Hashgacha of a son in law of the head of the Vaad’s Beis din.
The shop itself is not an issue, actually, if you stand outside for a few minutes you’ll see everyone walking in and out of that store is very happy. However, it’s going to be heavy traffic, especially early on with lines outside. Unsure what the parking situation is there but it’s about to get worse especially Fri-Sun
Welcome to big City life. We choose to live in these Democrat controlled miserable places, where politicians replace family, family life, and values with social and liberal, moral decay, and so this is what comes with the territory.
Why aren’t they happy? They keep voting for the dregs of society to be in political office. You reap what you sow!
I totally understand that in the religious community this is not welcomed. However we as Jews have much bigger problems than cannabis shops opening up. It’s simple if you don’t like them don’t visit them. Just like the adult entertainment stores if it’s not for you don’t go in . For the record it is proven that “alcohol” is way more “dangerous” than cannabis. Also “sugar” is way more dangerous than cannabis diabetes is very prevalent in the religious community. Obesity is a bigtime problem in the religious community especially among children. These are some of the concerns that we should be worried about.. not about “gentiles” opening cannabis stores they can open up “cocaine” stores for all I care doesn’t mean I would visit one.
when it came for elections the rabbanim in queens gave their opinion to vote democrat and with liberals. one can see the pictures with AG and other problems. i don’t know what up with queens but it has alot of issues.
With crime going higher taxes gonna higher
Why are you still there your elected officials voted to legalize. Get out of town leave New York yo the druggies and illegals.
I will be there to buy a marijuana cigarette.
See what I did there? I feigned my ignorance by saying such.
Storm in a cup of tea. I just heard from a Rav in Toronto. He said that with the legalization of marijuana they thought the whole city would “got to pot”. However, he said, it never materialized and that life went on as usual. Just leave them alone. This is only the beginning. If you don’t want to go in there don’t go in, that’s all.
They have these joints (pun intended) all over Boro park although I don’t think they officially sell weed.
Just like anything else prust you the individual have to have your own ethics, just like keeping kosher we need to install not just gemrah but medos into our boys