Two applicants were chosen for the north, central and southern parts of the state.
In South Jersey, Columbia Care New Jersey can now apply to grow and dispense medical marijuana in Vineland.
MPX New Jersey can apply to grow marijuana in Galloway Township and dispense the medication in nearby Atlantic City.
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.
The 146 applications were reviewed by a six-person committee consisting of four DOH representatives and one each from the Departments of Agriculture and Treasury. Their expertise included medical marijuana, ATC regulation, lab testing, plant science, diversity and procurement. Prior to scoring the applications, committee members received implicit bias training from the state’s Chief Diversity Officer to ensure an impartial selection process.
Three towns apparently couldn't wait for New Jersey to legalize marijuana. So they just took a vote themselves this past Tuesday – and the results may be a little surprising.
Nearly fifty-four percent of Union Township residents voted to support marijuana sales in their community, even though New Jersey has not yet made pot legal.
In Vineland, support for some form of marijuana legislation was even stronger: 60.42 percent voted yes while 39.58 voted no.
Voters in Tuesday’s midterm election approved a public question that would allow the city to permit medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities within its limits.
According to election results from the Cumberland County Clerk’s Office, more than 60 percent of voters in the city’s 36 districts approved the question — 8,968 voted yes, while 5,896 voted no.
The nonbinding referendum was placed on the ballot to gauge public opinion on the potential of the medical marijuana industry and its future in the city.
A medical marijuana company that hopes to set up a dispensary on North West Boulevard is asking for official city support to help it obtain a license from the New Jersey Department of Health.
Representatives of Columbia Care LLC discussed its plan for almost an hour at the City Council’s work session Tuesday night. The representatives, however, did not ask for a specific council action and council members limited their offers to advice and questions on potential economic impacts.
The question on the ballot will read: "Shall the City of Vineland permit the siting of medical marijuana cultivation and dispensary alternative treatment centers within the geographic boundaries of Vineland?"
The measure was approved unanimously and without debate at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night.