NJ's 7th Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opening In Paterson

PATERSON, NJ - A new medical marijuana dispensary received the green light from the state to open for business, according to officials.

Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company, was issued a permit by the state health department, allowing it to operate and dispense medical marijuana, the state announced.

More than 63,000 patients are registered in New Jersey's medicinal marijuana program, but right now they rely on six initial suppliers, which has led to long waits and shortages.

GTI will be the seventh alternative treatment center (ATC) for dispensing marijuana for medical use in New Jersey, which, Acting Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said will help "provide residents in the northern part of the state better access to products they need to treat their conditions."

She also said, “This is another step forward in making New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Program more patient friendly.”

Other ATCs include Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair, Compassionate Care Foundation in Egg Harbor, Garden State Dispensary in Woodbridge, Breakwater Alternative Treatment Center in Cranbury, Curaleaf NJ, Inc. in Bellmawr and Harmony Dispensary in Secaucus.

GTI’s store, Rise Paterson, is scheduled to open on Saturday. A ribbon cutting event and open house will be held on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Attendees can tour the store, meet workers and learn more about New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, according to GTI. Special guests include Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh and New Jersey Assistant Commissioner of Health Jeff Brown.

Ben Kovler, GTI’s founder and chief executive officer, praised Gov. Phil Murphy and Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh “for their leadership, vision and commitment to the medical cannabis community."

“We are honored to bring jobs and tax revenue to Paterson and to New Jersey and look forward to being active, involved members of the community,” Kovler said.

See More: Nearly 1,000 Doctors Have Medicinal Marijuana, See Where They Are

Rise Paterson is GTI’s first New Jersey store and 37th in the U.S. It is located at 196 3rd Avenue in Paterson and will be open Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are incredibly encouraged by the investment GTI has made in Paterson and their commitment to hire Patersonians,” said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. “We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg for jobs and financial benefits for our residents connected to the medical cannabis industry.”

The state has more than 1,000 participating physicians, 2,400 caregivers and 17 qualifying conditions, including opioid use disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain.

The Murphy Administration has made a series of program reforms that boosted participation, including the addition of five new medical conditions (anxiety, migraines, two forms of chronic pain and Tourette Syndrome), allowing ATCs to post prices and adding mobile access to the patient registry.

GTI is one of six new providers awarded licenses to become operational in New Jersey and the first among the companies to open. NJ.com recently reported that another company, Justice Grown, has broken ground on a facility in Ewing and is expected to open by December 2020.

According to the state, patients and caregivers can visit the state's medicinal marijuana program website to change their designated alternative treatment center.

The change can also be made by calling the Customer Service Unit of the MMP at 609-292-0424 and does not require changing ID cards.

New Jersey residents interested in registering for the MMP can visit the DOH website.