Feeling the state’s six not-for-profit medical marijuana dispensaries will not be able to handle the needs of the program as it grows, the Department of Health and Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration announced a request for six more dispensaries in a statement Monday.
“We look forward to the opening of six new dispensaries, so we can ensure that all qualifying patients who want access to medicinal marijuana can have it,’’ Murphy said in the statement.
“Due to the steps that (Health) Commissioner (Shereef) Elnahal and I have taken since January, we have seen the addition of 10,000 new patients. Accordingly, we have to expand the number of businesses who are growing product and serving patients.”
Currently, more than 25,000 patients, 1,000 caregivers and 700 physicians are participating in the program. The new dispensaries would be equally divided: two in North Jersey, two in Central Jersey and two in South Jersey.
“As we strive to make the program more responsive to the needs of patients, caregivers and Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs), we recognize the need to grow the industry and create more options for patients,” Elnahal said.
The request for applicants sets a deadline of Aug. 31, opens the door for for-profits, forbids existing dispensaries from applying (since they already have the ability to expand in the state) and allows a single entity to apply for multiple regions. For those who do submit multiple applications, the department asks them to rank them in order of priority.