Elizabeth

“Right now the state of New Jersey is allowing 10 patients inside the facility. Everyone will be 6 feet apart. There are markers on the floor so people know where to stand. And our staff is well-prepared to handle the influx of patients,” said Verano Holdings Retail Executive Vice President Anthony Dindia.

Dindia says ZenLeaf’s operated by Verana Holdings with dispensaries in seven states. It’s taken two years for the company to get proper permits and finally open in Elizabeth.

New Jersey now has two more medical marijuana dispensaries.

The state Department of Health this week issued permits to Zen Leaf in Elizabeth, which will open Friday, and Columbia Care, which will open early June in Vineland.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the new dispensaries will allow patients to better access their medicine during the pandemic.

In March, the state provided waivers to allow dispensaries to provide curbside pick-up, telephone consultations, bulk discounts and reduced caregiver fees.

The state Department of Health said it has issued final permits to Zen Leaf Elizabeth and Columbia Care in Vineland to begin dispensing marijuana. That brings the state total to 11 dispensaries.

Zen Leaf, operated by Verano NJ, will open its doors Friday in Elizabeth. Columbia Care plans to open in early June. Both received licenses to grow, process and dispense medical marijuana during a licensing round in 2018.

The New Jersey Department of Health this week issued permits allowing Zen Leaf Elizabeth (Verano NJ) in Elizabeth and Columbia Care in Vineland to begin dispensing medical marijuana. This brings the total number of operating dispensaries in the state to 11.

“It is critical that we continue to expand access for patients especially during these unprecedented times,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. “ The availability of these new ATCs will provide residents in the northern and southern parts of the state better access to products they need to treat their conditions.”

The state Department of Health has issued permits for three companies to begin growing medical marijuana and eventually opening dispensaries.

The permits were awarded to Verano, which plans to turn a vacant Walmart on Route 22 in Readington into a medical marijuana production facility; MPX NJ in Pleasantville and Columbia Care NJ in Vineland.

After their products are tested by the state and their dispensaries are ready to be operational, a second permit will be issued to operate an alternative treatment center.

Verano in Readington, MPX New Jersey in Pleasantville, and Columbia Care New Jersey in Vineland were granted medical cannabis cultivation permits, the New Jersey Department of Health announced Tuesday.

This marks the permitting of five of the “new six” medical cannabis businesses awarded licenses by New Jersey in December 2018. There has been movement in this space multiple times in the last two months.

"Six very strong applicants were selected, including minority-owned and women-owned businesses," Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal said. "We'll meet with them early next year to refine their timetable for growing product and opening their doors."

The entities listed below have received initial approval from the Department of Health for their applications to operate an alternative treatment center.

An approved application does not comprise a license, permit or other approval to open and operate an alternative treatment center. Permission to operate is granted to successful applicants only after DOH completes a series of reviews and inspections of their facilities, procedures and products.