Ayr Wellness Inc. closed its acquisition of Garden State Dispensary Sept. 15, snagging one of the state’s 12 existing vertically integrated cannabis business permits and one of its original six alternative treatment centers.
GSD has three open dispensaries in Woodbridge, Eatontown and Union, as well as approximately 30,000 square feet of operational cultivation and production facilities. An additional 75,000 square feet of cultivation is under construction.
Despite the opposition, the commission did approve a second marijuana cultivation site in Lafayette for Harmony Foundation of New Jersey, which currently grows and dispenses medical cannabis in Secaucus. The company also has planned to open two additional dispensaries in Hoboken and Jersey City, which could draw customers from New York.
The members of the Eatontown Borough Council have established regulations for cannabis businesses that may eventually operate in the municipality.
During a meeting on Aug. 5, council members adopted an ordinance that establishes the locations where cannabis businesses will be permitted to operate and the standards by which the business operators may receive a license.
Borough Council President Kevin Gonzalez, Councilwoman Jasmine Story, Councilman Joseph Olsavsky, Councilwoman Maria Escalante and Councilwoman Danielle Jones voted “yes” on a motion to adopt the ordinance.
One of the things we know for sure is that all towns are given the option to opt out of the sale of marijuana in their towns if they so choose. And many towns have already taken advantage of this.
One town that is jumping on the bandwagon in favor of marijuana sales is Eatontown. I’ve already seen a marijuana dispensary sitting along the highway in Eatontown, sparkling and beautiful, all ready to be opened as soon as the legislature could get its act together and the town could pass the relevant ordinances.
The borough, which was first at the Shore to have a medical marijuana dispensary, will permit the businesses on its main commercial corridor along routes 35 and 36. While two new licenses will be made available for retail cannabis, a third license is expected to go to the Garden State Dispensary, the medical marijuana dispenser, to expand its operations to include recreational sales.
The Borough Council killed one ordinance for recreational cannabis in favor of an amended version that permits cannabis retails businesses to open on all of Route 36.
The first ordinance, introduced July 14, permitted cannabis retail on Route 36 east of the Route 35 intersection only, along with Route 35 south of Monmouth Mall. The council, concerned that the measure would not pass because some members wanted the entire Route 36 corridor opened, held a special meeting last week, and introduced the amended version.
The first ordinance, which was introduced July 14 and will be voted on Wednesday, does not have the full support of the council. At least one objection is the ordinance is too restrictive because it would not allow retail cannabis businesses to open on Rt. 36 west of the Rt. 35 intersection.
Speaking Wednesday at a special council meeting called to discuss a compromise, Councilwoman Maria Escalante said she wouldn't vote for the measure unless all of Rt. 36 was open for retail cannabis.
The city of South Amboy is only the latest Central Jersey town to ban any marijuana shop or weed business from opening in town, including medical marijuana facilities.
At their Wednesday night meeting, the South Amboy city Council unanimously voted to pass an ordinance that bans any marijuana-related business from opening anywhere within town limits. This includes medical marijuana, grow shops, cafes, retail shops or marijuana-delivery businesses.
Provided by state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), here are photos of the ribbon cutting at Garden State Dispensary in Eatontown last Thursday.
This is the first medical marijuana shop in either Monmouth or Ocean counties. It is located at 59 Rt. 35, near the entrance to the old Fort Monmouth property.
"This medical facility will play an important role in helping thousands of patients in Monmouth County," said Gopal, who attended the ribbon cutting.