Behind the beige walls of this former 120,000-square-foot Walmart store in Branchburg, N.J., blooms an emerald green indoor cannabis farm for multi-state operator Verano Holdings Corp.
After winning a permit in 2018 from the New Jersey to supply cannabis for the Garden State’s medical program, Verano’s VRNOF VRNO cultivation facility now grows and processes jars of dried flower, pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, gummies and vaping oil for the company’s Zen Leaf dispensaries in the state.
Verano Zen Leaf Neptune Township will become New Jersey’s 18th store offering adult legal weed on Friday, when it opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. and recreational sales to commence at 9 a.m., according to township officials who received an email from the company announcing the launch.
“They’re going to cut the ribbon and they’re going to open,” Bernie Haney, Director of Land Use Development, for Neptune Township told N.J. Advance Media Monday afternoon.
Verano is the only cannabis company currently permitted to begin personal adult-use cannabis sales in New Jersey's central region on April 21st at its Zen Leaf Elizabeth (117 Spring St) and Lawrence Township (3256 Brunswick Pike) dispensary locations. Verano also operates Zen Leaf Neptune Township (2100 Route 66), a medical cannabis dispensary that will also be permitted to begin adult-use sales under the state's new regulations.
Township officials will allow up to three recreational marijuana businesses to open in town, making Neptune one of the few places at the Jersey Shore welcoming the new cannabis industry created by the passage of the 2020 constitutional amendment.
The Neptune Township Committee approved its cannabis regulations with little public comment at its Monday night meeting. The only comment came from an attorney asking the cannabis ordinance to include West Grove Square, the shopping plaza that housed the former Clancy's Tavern.
Neptune leaders, like their counterparts across the state, are under a time limit to set up their regulations for dispensaries ahead of a statewide Aug. 21 deadline.
New Jersey's law that legalized recreational marijuana gave all towns until then to decide if they want to ban dispensaries in their town or set up their own regulations. Otherwise the new businesses will be able to operate for five years under state regulations.
Medical marijuana card holders at the Jersey Shore will now have another option to buy legal weed.
The state's newest shop is scheduled to open on Route 66 in Neptune Township.
Just a few months ago, Smashburger closed the store and Zen Leaf saw an opportunity and quickly moved in, transforming the spot from burgers to marijuana with hope to join the recreational sales to come.
Zen Leaf Executive Vice President Anthony Marsico says Neptune Township is one of the few Jersey Shore municipalities that is allowing medical marijuana.
Submitted by njlegalizeme on Sun, 09/09/2018 - 21:28