Cannabis Company Can Depose Jailed Official In Lawsuit Against Former Hoboken, Jersey City Mayors

HOBOKEN, NJ — A cannabis business that sued two former Hudson County mayors — saying they hindered the company’s application in order to help a mayor’s wife — can depose a jailed Hoboken official, according to a court ruling.

In 2024, Nature’s Touch Dispensary filed a lawsuit accusing Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla (now an assemblyman) and former Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop of involvement in holding up their Hoboken application, in order to help a planned dispensary in a property co-owned by Fulop’s wife.

As first reported on Hudson County View last week, the recent Aug. 14 order means that former Hoboken Human Services Director Leo Pellegrini will be allowed to testify in the suit, despite being in prison.

The 2024 lawsuit said the mayors interfered in order to help Fulop’s wife, who co-owned storefront rented by Story dispensary, which has yet to open.

READ MORE: Work Resumes On Fulop-Linked Dispensary

Pellegrini, who was sent to jail for embezzling Hoboken recreation funds, had initially accused Bhalla of interfering in the application.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/cannabis-company-can-depose-jailed-official-lawsuit-against-former-hoboken-jersey?utm_source=policy_decoded&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=andy-harris-can-t-amend-the-hemp-delay-so-he-s-voting-against-the-rule