South Jersey's blooming marijuana market is drawing intense interest from experienced cannabis operators across the country, and roping in locals who want to venture into the business for the first time.
Of 103 companies seeking a New Jersey license to operate a medical marijuana dispensary, at least 23 appear to be stalking locations in South Jersey.
The number of patients registered in New Jersey's medical marijuana program more than doubled since January to 33,531 people.
The state is now racing to double the number of facilities that sell and grow medical marijuana, called alternative treatment centers, by opening six more licenses: two each in northern, central and southern New Jersey.