EDITOR’S NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting an in-person business networking event July 14 at The Asbury in Asbury Park. Tickets are limited.
Legal weed could soon be sold at 19 stores in New Jersey.
Neptune Township in Monmouth County has given initial approval to Verano to expand the company’s medical dispensary there to adult weed sales.
Verano confirmed to NJ Advance Media it just passed the first hurdle of getting municipal approval, considered the hardest, on its road to adult weed sales. The company is still awaiting approval from both the Neptune Township cannabis subcommittee and the full Township council before it can formally move forward with the process.
“We are grateful for the collaboration and discussions we have had to date with Neptune Township officials in seeking to commence adult-use cannabis sales at our Zen Leaf Neptune store,” the company said in a statement issued late Wednesday. “We look forward to furthering our conversations with the municipality and also working with the CRC on final licensing.”
The news comes just a week after the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission gave the green light for medical marijuana dispensaries to also sell adult use recreational weed within weeks at five more stores in Woodbridge, Union, Eatontown (all owned by AYR Wellness), Lodi (owned by TerrAscend), and Montclair (owned by Ascend).
In addition, a Curaleaf-owned store in Edgewater Park began selling legal weed last week after meeting local approvals over the size of its parking lot. Legal weed launched at 12 stores on April 21.
The Neptune Township Planning Board, in a 7-0 vote, gave conditional approval May 25 for Verano to expand its current medical dispensary at 2070-2100 Route 66, that operates under the Zen Leaf banner, to also sell adult weed.
The resolution granting approval will be memorialized at the Planning Board’s next meeting on June 22, board secretary Kristie Dickert confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Wednesday.
Once the township approvals are secured, Verano is expected to seek an appearance before the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to get final state approvals to begin adult weed sales. The CRC’s next board meeting is on June 23.
Industry experts predict Verano may push to open right before or during Fourth of July weekend – considered among the busiest for cannabis sales, just like the three-day Memorial Day weekend, with large crowds on hand.
Verano is currently selling adult weed at its stores carrying the Zen Leaf banner in Elizabeth and Lawrence Township. It was among the seven ATCs - along with Acreage, Columbia Care, Ascend, TerrAscend, Curaleaf and GTI - that launched adult recreational weed sales on April 21.
A representative for AYR, the eighth ATC that initially applied to do the same, but received approval only last week to sell recreational weed at its stores in Eatontown, Union and Woodbridge, told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday the company has still not determined opening dates. A statement last week from the company, which recently acquired Garden State Dispensary, said it plans to open for adult weed sales within weeks.
Verano’s medical dispensary, with the Zen Leaf banner prominently displayed outside, sits just miles from the beach and is part of an outdoor strip plaza in Neptune Township that also includes a florist, an auto parts and accessories shop, a bank, mobile phone carrier and an electronic cigarette shop.
The medical dispensary is located in a 4,770-square foot space in the strip mall owned by Neptune Circle Holdings, LLC.
Neptune Township zoning officer George Waterman said Verano got approval to open the medical dispensary on Oct. 15, 2020, and the following month It opened to serve medical marijuana patients only.
Neptune Township opted to participate in legalized adult weed sales last summer, and by late February of this year it adopted three ordinances pertaining to land use, mercantile and taxation setting standards to begin adult recreational weed sales.
“Their application came in on May 6. There were no variances requested. They are located at the end of a strip mall so it was a pretty straightforward application,” township clerk Gabriella Siboni said on Wednesday.
The June 22 planning board hearing to finalize the township’s approval begins at 5 p.m. at the Neptune Township Municipal Building.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com
Suzette Parmley may be reached at sparmley@njadvancemedia.com or follow her on Twitter: @SuzParmley