South Jersey marijuana farm and dispensary set for fall debut

South Jersey's first pot farm and dispensary is expected to open in Egg Harbor Township in the fall, 2 1/2 years after the state legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

None of six dispensaries authorized by the state has yet opened for business.

The Atlantic County town recently issued the facility a zoning permit, a prize that proved to be elusive in a string of other South Jersey towns after residents packed local meeting halls to protest.

"I feel better than I have in about six months. . . . This has been hard. I've actually been through hell getting this done," said William J. Thomas, chief executive officer of Compassionate Care Foundation, a nonprofit that plans to dispense cannabis to about 1,000 gravely ill patients each month.

Since last summer, local boards and officials in at least five other municipalities - Camden, Westampton, Maple Shade, Bellmawr, and Upper Freehold - rejected plans for marijuana operations after residents expressed fears of increased crime and "potheads" roaming their neighborhoods.

"People are finally realizing this is a legitimate thing," said Thomas, explaining that the state requires security measures and background checks for owners and employees, restricts the drug to patients with certain serious diseases, and allows the drug to be dispensed only after the reduction of a component that causes euphoria.

New Jersey is one of 14 states - Pennsylvania is not one - that allow medicinal marijuana. Initially, Gov. Christie delayed implementation, then local opposition kept the novel businesses from getting approvals.

A nonprofit company in Montclair, Essex County, was the first to obtain local permits several weeks ago and now awaits final state approvals.

Egg Harbor Township Mayor James McCullough said the township zoning officer issued a permit two weeks ago to developer Leo B. Schoffer when he asked to lease his warehouse to a marijuana dispensary. The 85,000-square-foot warehouse is in an industrial park off Delilah Drive between Atlantic City International Airport and the city's landfill.