Morris Co. Farm Applies For Medical Marijuana Permit

PEQUANNOCK, NJ — A Morris County farm has applied for a permit to grow medical marijuana, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

Hillview Med in Pequannock, which owns and operates Gro-Rite Garden Center & Florist, is one of 147 farms looking to be granted one of six new medical marijuana production licenses, the Daily Record first reported. Two will be issued in each section of the state.

The CEO of Hillview Med, Ken VandeVrede, told the Daily Record he expects to be able to produce marijuana much cheaper than other farmers because his production will happen outside. New Jersey has one of the most expensive medical marijuana programs in the country.

Gov. Phil Murphy put out a call for more medical marijuana locations in July, hoping to add six more dispensaries to the state's six current locations. The new locations are necessary to meet increased demand, Murphy said. Since more conditions became eligible for medical marijuana in January, the number of patients registered ballooned from around 18,000 to more than 25,000 as more became eligible.

Adding more dispensaries is part of the Murphy administrations efforts to make the program more accessible, officials said.

"As we strive to make the program more responsive to the needs of patients, caregivers and Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs), we recognize the need to grow the industry and create more options for patients," said Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal, M.D.

Murphy enacted major reforms to the medical marijuana program shortly after he took office in January, including lowering program registration fees, adding more eligible conditions, and no longer requiring doctors to list their names in a public registry.

There are currently six dispensaries in the state, including a recently opened location in Secaucus.

Read More:

• Rush For Medical Marijuana In NJ After New Conditions Approved
• New Jersey Medical Marijuana: Panel OKs 5 New Conditions
• Gov. Phil Murphy Just Made It Easier To Get Marijuana In NJ

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