Newark, New Jersey's Central Planning Board denied an application by Raekwon The Chef of the Wu-Tang Clan to open a cannabis lounge in the city after elders at the Old Presbyterian Church across the street from the proposed site protested according to NJ.com.

A lawyer for Hashtoria, the Oregon-based company co-owned by Raekwon alerted the board that their plans conformed to zoning requirements and that an appeal would be forthcoming should the board deny their application. Board members rejected the application based on the grounds that lines would form outside of the Broad Street location which is one block away from the Prudential Center. The board also cited parking problems and stoned customers.

"I pray that you will put this somewhere else, not in the heart of Newark," said Reverend Doris Glaspy a pastor at Old Presbyterian Church.

Josh Sanderlin, a Hashtoria representative assured board members that the lounge would be safe and orderly and that patrons had to be at least 21. Additionally, he stressed that there would be no outdoor activity and nothing to advertise the nature of the inside business which would have cameras installed everywhere but bathrooms.

The lounge was slated to sell smoking marijuana, edibles, hard candy, baked goods and beverages. New Jersey's regulatory commission recently made the decision to allow customers to consume marijuana where it is sold in certain licensed locations, and this opening would have marked Hastoria's first east coast location.

Raekwon is currently on tour in South America with the Wu-Tang Clan and has not made a public comment.