After a marathon meeting listening to Curaleaf New Jersey Inc.'s request to open a medical marijuana dispensary on Route 73, the Mount Laurel Zoning Board of Adjustment late Wednesday night decided to continue its review at its September 2 session.
Curaleaf wants to open the marijuana facility just over the Evesham Township line at 1315 Route 73. The property is owned by Balducci Inc. of Haddonfield and now houses a Giant Fitness gym, which remains closed under the state's COVID-19 regulations. Curaleaf would lease all of the space.
One underlying question during the meeting: Would Curaleaf plan to sell recreational marijuana from the building if New Jersey voters in November approve a ballot question legalizing the adult use of the drug.
Curaleaf representatives testified their company would be the sole occupant of the building, using 8,000 square feet for the medical marijuana dispensary and holding 8,225 square feet unoccupied. A condition by the zoning board states the facility can be used only for the sale of medical marijuana.
However, if the recreational use of marijuana is legalized and Curaleaf wants to expand its use of the Route 73 building to marijuana sales to the public, the company would return to the zoning board for permission because it would be a non-conforming use, said CherylLynn Walters, the Egg Harbor Township lawyer representing the applicant before the board.