Business owners who had hoped last year to be one of the few authorized for growing, selling and delivering medicinal cannabis are biding their time as state lawmakers debate how to proceed.
“We’re still hoping to be licensed,” said Dr. Ira Trocki, chief operating officer of Relevant 1 LLC. Trocki and his business partner, Dr. Jon Regis, formed their medicinal cannabis company before the state Department of Health’s first round of open applications for new alternative therapy centers in July 2018.
Initially, 146 applicants submitted applications, knowing only six companies would be selected — two each in northern, central and southern New Jersey.
The department awarded the licenses in December, leaving many companies to either re-evaluate their situation or wait until another opportunity for legal marijuana cultivation in the state.
The Egg Harbor City warehouse Relevant 1 was approved by the city to redevelop as a medicinal marijuana facility remains empty.
With approval from the state, either by another round of licensing or legislation to legalize recreational cannabis, Trocki said the company would easily be able to repurpose the properties they own for the marijuana business.