ASBURY PARK – For a short while, Sylvia Sylvia-Cioffi might have been the most popular person at the Jersey Shore.
New Jersey was on the cusp of legalizing marijuana for recreational use — it was a matter of “when,” not “if” — and Asbury Park was seen as a potential epicenter. It had the built-in name recognition and attractions. It had a bustling downtown. And its officials were open about their intention to welcome in the cannabis industry with open arms.
When industry hot-shots wanted an introduction to the city’s decision-makers, they turned to Sylvia-Cioffi, executie director of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. Some even wanted her to join their boards of directors or ownership groups: Sylvia-Cioffi, a Cuban American woman, described herself as a “bit of a unicorn” for an industry that state law rewards when women and people of color are in charge.