New Jersey Legalization

Some recently announced Atlantic City cannabis projects:

Come the end of summer, Cape May County could see what may be its first legal cannabis dispensary open for business.

Shore House Canna LLC, located at 124 Sunset Blvd. in West Cape May, hopes to start legally selling cannabis by Labor Day — a move that would make it not only the county’s first legal dispensary, but among the first in any beach town in New Jersey, save for Atlantic City.

“We can smell the finish,” said Dave Christian, a principal with Shore House Canna.

Really, Dave Neese? You thought we needed “‘Reefer Madness,’ updated” (The Trentonian, 7/15/23)?

Madness is best dealt with by minimizing its impact and severity, not trying to cause a resurgence in it.

But Mr. Neese’s column indicates reefer madness will never die. There is too much money involved in marijuana prohibition, and some people simply refuse to accept any evidence that marijuana is a benign and relatively harmless substance.

City Council is expected to introduce a measure July 27 that would allow a cannabis retailer and a distributor to operate in Somers Point.

City Council President Janice Johnston said last week the agenda is not official but that she expects the ordinance to be on it Thursday evening.

The governing body has been discussing the idea for years, ever since voters approved a statewide referendum in November 2020 decriminalizing adult recreational use and creating a marketplace for sales and taxation. The vote was 2-1 in favor, both statewide and in the city.

Mike Davis, a reporter with the Asbury Park Press, explains how municipalities are benefiting and what the money is being spent on. “In Lawrence Township and Mercer County, their business administrator told me they’re basically able to pay for their trash collection next year just off of cannabis alone,” Davis said.

To address the critical need for workers in the industry, Union has partnered with Green Flower, a leader in cannabis education, to offer these in-demand training programs, focusing on retail specialist training, cannabis extraction and product development, and cultivation.

“The cannabis field is a rapidly growing industry. With the legalization of recreational marijuana use in New Jersey, it is important to educate our community on the process of producing and selling cannabis products in a legal and ethical way,” stated Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

“A lot of people have actually said that,” said Thomas Marino, one of the co-owners of The Social Leaf, located at 334 Atlantic City Boulevard (Route 9). “We wanted it to look clean, sleek and modern. We didn’t want to look like a head shop. We wanted to stand out – clean lines, ambience, a fresh atmosphere. People have said it feels like a combination between an Apple Store and a lounge, and that’s exactly what I was going for.”

They believe at this point in the medical program, there should be more types of products available to patients.

The city, which is adjusting its law governing recreational cannabis businesses, does not want them located in residential buildings.

An amendment to Camden's cannabis ordinance had its first reading at last week's Council meeting and will get the second reading, public comment, and final vote at the August 8 meeting.

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.