Mount Laurel

The cannabis industry continues to blossom in Mount Laurel, with the first recreational marijuana store officially opening on Saturday and two other businesses going before the Township zoning board next week.

Daylite Cannabis, the town's first store of its kind, will hold a grand opening on Saturday, September 30, at its store at 1136 Route 73, on the southbound side before the Church Road intersection.

However, those issues have been resolved, Morris told TAPinto in an email.

“The Township had a professional discussion with the business owner and their team to resolve outstanding issues,” he said. “The Township is satisfied with the results of those discussions (and) Daylite has received approval from the Township."

Daylite cannabis received approval for its annual retail license on June 1 from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission and its owner, Steve Cassidy, told 70and73.com in an interview that he expected to open by the end of June.

But the business' plans came to a screeching halt in June when Mount Laurel Township and its Police Department told Cassidy they did not approve of his security plan and that an armed security guard would be required.

At the time, there was no mention of the need for security guards in the Township cannabis ordinance.

The Mount Laurel Township Council unanimously approved two revisions to its cannabis ordinance during its meeting on Tuesday night.

The first revision “requires armed security” in the Township’s cannabis businesses, according to Mount Laurel Township Manager Meredith Riculfy. This change is anticipated to provide additional protection to the business’ employees, contractors and customers.

The second revision caps the maximum number of retail cannabis businesses that can operate in the Township at six, Riculfy told TAPinto Mount Laurel.

One of those additional looks involves Daylite Cannabis, a company that received the Council’s support in December. In March, the company also received Mount Laurel Township Zoning Board’s approval to establish a retail operation at 1136 State Route 73 South. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has since approved Daylite Cannabis’ application, which would allow owner Steve Cassidy to move closer to opening his retail shop.

Daylite cannabis originally was granted unanimous Township Council support on December 12 to open a recreational marijuana store. The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved daylite's application on March 1 to open at 1136 Route 73.

Based in part on the required Township support, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission early this month approved a license for daylite. That license was the first approved by the state for a Mount Laurel retailer and among the first few to win approval in the 70and73.com area.

Mount Laurel Council members on Tuesday, June 13, will either change its cannabis game plan or clarify the rules, depending on the point of view.

For daylite cannabis, the early entrant, the Township's interpretation of what is adequate security could put it out of business.

A Council resolution on Tuesday's agenda targets the business, which has renovated a former real estate office and as of last week had hired its staff and was expected to open before July 1.

An official, celebratory opening for the recreational cannabis store will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, at 903 White Horse Road with food and music.

Sweetspot, with its parent medical marijuana dispensary based in Rhode Island and others in Maryland and Maine, is one of the recreational cannabis pioneers in the 70and73.com region.

A new cannabis dispensary is set to open in Mt Laurel this summer, bringing a new era of elevated cannabis shopping experiences to the area. The dispensary, located at 1134 Rt 73 Mt Laurel, NJ, will be owned and operated by Jessy Vikani, a pharmacist and New Jersey resident with a passion for community outreach.

This town’s budding ‘cannabis corridor’ could be getting competition.

A Michigan firm, Hempnotize New Jersey LLC, wants to open a weed shop in a vacant office building on Church Road near Fellowship Road, according to an application before Mount Laurel’s planning board.

That’s less than a mile from a cluster of three proposed dispensaries near Church Road’s intersection with Route 73.