Jacob Bell
New Member
MAPLE SHADE – A nonprofit organization wants to open a dispensary for medical marijuana here.
Compassionate Sciences ATC is seeking township approval to sell medical marijuana from the former Office Furniture Outlet on northbound Route 73 at Route 38. It has asked Maple Shade's zoning board to decide whether the dispensary can operate at the site, which is in a business development district.
The board is to consider the request at an Oct. 12 meeting.
Compassionate Sciences, one of two state-approved suppliers of medical marijuana for South Jersey, has not yet announced plans for a growing facility. "We have some locations that we've identified, and they're in Burlington County," Andrei Bogolubov, a spokesman for the Long Island-based nonprofit, said Monday.
The other supplier, Compassionate Care Foundation, has expressed interest in growing and selling marijuana from a vacant warehouse on Hancock Lane in Westampton, a municipal official said Monday. The site is near Interchange 5 of the New Jersey Turnpike and across the street from a senior housing complex, Fernbrooke.
"The zoning there permits such a medical facility, but depending on the plan, we don't know yet what township approval may be needed besides a certificate of occupancy," said township administrator Donna Ryan. She said Compassionate Care, which is based in Mercer County, has not submitted a formal plan.
Compassionate Care at one point had a tentative lease for a site on Benigno Boulevard in Bellmawr, but that agreement fell through due to a delay in the program's implementation.
Some Fernbrooke residents expressed concern Monday, saying they feared a marijanua facility would draw drug users, rather than people with medical needs.
"We don't want it," said resident Barbara Christenson. "I think when they hear 'marijuana', people will do anything to try to get it and will find a doctor to prescribe it."
The state's six medical-marijuana suppliers have been seeking facilities since July, when Gov. Chris Christie said he'd allow operation of a state program signed into law by his predecessor, Jon S. Corzine, in January 2010. The law allows the sale of marijuana to patients with specific illnesses, including glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and terminal cancer.
In Maple Shade, the business development district allows "professional, medical and business offices" at the proposed Compassionate Sciences site, as well as "retail sale of goods stored or manufactured on site."
"We are looking forward to the public hearing," said Bogolubov. "We are hopeful it will be approved, but we do not want to presume anything.
We want to show the community that we will be a great corporate citizen."
He said the dispensary, if approved, could open by early 2012.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: courierpostonline.com
Author: Jim Walsh
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: courierpostonline.com
Website: Maple Shade proposed for medical marijuana dispensary
Compassionate Sciences ATC is seeking township approval to sell medical marijuana from the former Office Furniture Outlet on northbound Route 73 at Route 38. It has asked Maple Shade's zoning board to decide whether the dispensary can operate at the site, which is in a business development district.
The board is to consider the request at an Oct. 12 meeting.
Compassionate Sciences, one of two state-approved suppliers of medical marijuana for South Jersey, has not yet announced plans for a growing facility. "We have some locations that we've identified, and they're in Burlington County," Andrei Bogolubov, a spokesman for the Long Island-based nonprofit, said Monday.
The other supplier, Compassionate Care Foundation, has expressed interest in growing and selling marijuana from a vacant warehouse on Hancock Lane in Westampton, a municipal official said Monday. The site is near Interchange 5 of the New Jersey Turnpike and across the street from a senior housing complex, Fernbrooke.
"The zoning there permits such a medical facility, but depending on the plan, we don't know yet what township approval may be needed besides a certificate of occupancy," said township administrator Donna Ryan. She said Compassionate Care, which is based in Mercer County, has not submitted a formal plan.
Compassionate Care at one point had a tentative lease for a site on Benigno Boulevard in Bellmawr, but that agreement fell through due to a delay in the program's implementation.
Some Fernbrooke residents expressed concern Monday, saying they feared a marijanua facility would draw drug users, rather than people with medical needs.
"We don't want it," said resident Barbara Christenson. "I think when they hear 'marijuana', people will do anything to try to get it and will find a doctor to prescribe it."
The state's six medical-marijuana suppliers have been seeking facilities since July, when Gov. Chris Christie said he'd allow operation of a state program signed into law by his predecessor, Jon S. Corzine, in January 2010. The law allows the sale of marijuana to patients with specific illnesses, including glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and terminal cancer.
In Maple Shade, the business development district allows "professional, medical and business offices" at the proposed Compassionate Sciences site, as well as "retail sale of goods stored or manufactured on site."
"We are looking forward to the public hearing," said Bogolubov. "We are hopeful it will be approved, but we do not want to presume anything.
We want to show the community that we will be a great corporate citizen."
He said the dispensary, if approved, could open by early 2012.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: courierpostonline.com
Author: Jim Walsh
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: courierpostonline.com
Website: Maple Shade proposed for medical marijuana dispensary
