Monmouth County

Ayr Wellness Inc. is growing in more ways than one.

After undergoing an expansion, the Miami, Fla.-based multistate operator’s cannabis dispensary in Eatontown recently debuted a bigger and brighter retail space. Along with increased maximum occupancy, from 22 to 162 people, the store nearly tripled its point-of-sale stations to 23 systems.

The Main Street dispensary – which sells both medicinal and adult-use cannabis – stayed open during renovations since it took over an adjoining space as part of the project, a spokesperson said.

Monteverde NJ, Inc., is seeking a retail cannabis license at 45 No. Bridge Ave., located at the corner of Brower Street.

A bulk variance is being sought to, “… allow any existing non-conforming conditions to remain and to allow applicant to satisfy its parking obligation by providing eleven off-street parking spaces, in addition to five onsite parking spaces for a total of sixteen spaces where nine parking spaces are required,” according to the agenda.

With a more welcoming council set to take office July 1, Canopy Crossroad now appears to have a clearer path to opening next door to Red Bank Liquors, though hurdles remain.

Owned by Andy Zeitlin and Caryn Cohen of Middletown, Canopy Crossroad won approval of its conditional-use application for 9 West Street on an 8-1 board vote. Only board member Juanita Lewis, a former council member, voted no; she offered no comments during the hearing.

David Cruz talks with Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) about why he’s calling for the end of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission & who should regulate the industry going forward.

A special meeting to discuss cannabis businesses was held at the borough hall March 29, where the council proceeded to approve the introduction of two ordinances amidst litigation threats from business owners.

The new laws include one on cannabis regulation that would set the rules about locations and hours of operation, and a Cannabis Review Board ordinance that would determine the cannabis business licensure procedure.

Now they’re getting their wish as the first medicinal marijuana shop has opened in town just days after state officials approved what will be the borough’s first recreational, or adult use, dispensary.

“The people of the community voted overwhelmingly for the sale of recreational marijuana, we are only following the will of the people,” said Borough Administrator Steve Gallo. “These are tightly controlled businesses, serious regulations and we don’t anticipate any problems.”

The medical cannabis dispensary has already been open for business at 546 Park Ave.

And on Wednesday, Mayor Kevin A. Kane and Councilmember Annette Hawley Jordan joined Sen. Vin Gopal in cutting the ribbon at the dispensary's grand opening.

The business will not only bring jobs and new tax revenue to the borough, but also serves a medical need.

The Lake Como Mayor and Council recently held a workshop discussing the possibility of amending the borough’s ordinances on recreational marijuana sales. While no action was taken, officials considered the idea of allowing one or more cannabis dispensaries in Lake Como.

Since 2021, marijuana sales have been banned in Lake Como in regard to the state’s legalization of it. While it is legal state-wide, it is up to municipalities whether or not it is allowed within the borough.

The grand opening of NJ Leaf medical cannabis dispensary is this Wednesday, March 15, at 11 a.m., offering another Monmouth County location for the purchase of medical marijuana.

NJ Leaf is a medical dispensary located at 546 Park Ave. in the borough and is locally owned.

The event will be attended by Mayor Kevin Kane and State Sen. Vin Gopal. There is additional event parking at CKO Kickboxing, 536 Park Ave., the facility says.

NJ Leaf, along with borough and other officials, broke ground in August 2022 on the company's site.

In an early morning phone call from Red Bank Fire Department Chief Wayne Hartman, it was learned that the Red Bank Fire Company has no affiliation with the Red Bank Fire Department.

Hartmanin a written statement provided to TAPinto Red Bank, asked that we remove the RBFD logo which we did.

Information on the Red Bank Fire Company could not be obtained.