New Jersey's Second MMJ Dispensary May Have (Finally) Found a Home

Will drop lawsuit against Westhampton if Egg Harbor site is approved

ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ — A non-profit dispensary approved by New Jersey to open in the southern part of the state may have finally found a home.

Several months ago, the Compassionate Care Foundation Inc. thought it had locked in a site in Westhampton, and even put money down for a rent deposit. Last month, those plans abruptly fell through after the Westhampton Land Development Board rejected their zoning applications and a last-ditch effort for a use variance.

After being denied for the Westhampton site, the non-profit filed a lawsuit asking a judge to overturn the decision of the Board, which voted 4-3 against the goup’s bid to operate in the vacant Westhampton warehouse. A hearing has been set for March 23.

On Tuesday, however, Compassionate Care changed its mind and instead announced an agreement with center and township officials in Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County to open a dispensary there.

Compassionate Care, which is based in Mount Laurel, is one of two state-approved providers of medical marijuana that has been struggling to find a home in South Jersey. The other supplier, Compassionate Sciences ATC, was rebuffed in October when it sought to open a marijuana dispensary at a former furniture store on Route 73.

New Jersey legalized medical marijuana in January 2010, authorizing six nonprofit groups to operate in distinct zones across the state. But Gov. Chris Christie, citing concerns over federal laws against the drug’s sale, did not give his approval until July of last year. So far, no marijuana has been sold legally in New Jersey and at least four town boards have turned away the businesses.

But, if the deal goes through, Compassionate Care will become become only the second out of six centers with confirmed locations. Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair got local approval and finalized its plans back in September, becoming the first center to do so.

If the plans for Egg Harbor go forward as anticipated, Compassionate Care will likely drop the pending lawsuit against Westampton, said Bill Thomas, the CEO of the group.