Cannabis Dispensary Approved By Morristown Planning Board 

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown's first cannabis dispensary is one step closer to reality after the planning board unanimously approved a new two-story building that will house the future business.

The dispensary, located on Ridgedale Avenue, will take the place of a former budget truck rental agency. The chosen site is on a busy stretch of road near the Morris Township border, across from a former state motor vehicle inspection station, a bank and a lumberyard.

The Morristown council first approved the resolution allowing the vendor Uma Flowers to open Morristown's first cannabis dispensary in late May 2022.

Uma Flowers, a Massachusetts-based company founded by two sisters, was chosen over five local applicants for the council's first cannabis license, sparking some tension in the community.

Read more: Cannabis Decision Upheld, Following Appeal To Morristown Council

Following the approval last spring, several residents questioned the council's decision to grant Uma Flowers a single cannabis license, despite the fact that the original ordinance allowed for a maximum of two cannabis licenses.

On Thursday, the Morristown Planning Board heard and discussed the initial site plans for the new dispensary, during a three-hour-long board meeting.

According to Joe Stromer, the project's architect, one of the main goals of the building's design is to make it as approachable and upscale looking as possible. "It is a well-thought-out and designed building."

Cannabis will not be mentioned anywhere on any signage connected to the building, which some people were worried about.

The structure of the building will include two separate spaces, one of which will be a one-story retail area and the other a two-story area that will house employee offices and other back-office operations.

Two greeters, a receptionist, two fulfillment staff members, a security guard, and a parking attendant will make up the staff. The Morristown Police Department will also initially send out a security detail during peak hours.

The Patels, who also spoke during the board meeting, explained that for the first four weeks, customers will need to place their orders online and make a pickup appointment in order to purchase goods from Uma Flowers.

Every 15 minutes, there will be 28 appointment slots that will become available for online orders.

The Patels said that they will adjust the policy as needed and as the level of business dictates.

Customers will be able to come into the dispensary between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Prior to approving the site plan, board member Debra Gottsleben recalled scrambling last year to obtain cannabis to help her late husband, former Morristown Mayor Jay DeLaney, who died recently of cancer.

Read more: Cancer Diagnosis For Former Mayor, Morristown Community Offers Support

"As someone who had a husband who was very, very ill and it was recommended that cannabis might be something that could help him at the end of his days. I actually had to have a friend go down to Trenton, which was one of the closest dispensaries that we could find. The thought that there would be something closer is really, very dear to my heart," Gottsleben said.

No planned opening date for the dispensary was given during the Thursday meeting.