The state Superior Court in Gloucester County ruled in favor of High Street Capital Partners, which does business as Acreage Holdings, finding that Mantua Township was wrong to wait months to deny a zoning permit to grow cannabis — and wrong to say no simply because it is a marijuana facility.
Towns can bar cannabis businesses, but must pass ordinances to do so. Municipalities have six months to decide if they want to block the growing, manufacturing and distribution of weed under the new legalization law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy last week.
The ruling will ultimately lead to an increase in how much cannabis is available for medical marijuana patients.
And if the facility can ramp up growing operations this year, it could help get New Jersey closer to launching weed sales to those 21 and older.