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Cannabis businesses are finally coming to Hoboken and Galloway Township.

Terrapin Care Station

Colorado-based Terrapin officially opened Hoboken’s first-ever medical cannabis dispensary, just 100 yards away from the PATH station.

Located at 86 River St., Terrapin Care Station – also known as “The Station” – is a 5,000-square-foot-shop that offers a curated selection of extracts, edibles, pills, cartridges, pre-rolls and flower. While The Station exclusively serves medicinal patients right now, a spokesperson told NJBIZ the business is pursuing approval to sell adult-use cannabis.

The Station’s owner and operator, local entrepreneur Joseph Castelo, said in a statement, “Hoboken is a city of many firsts, and The Station will be a new first for Hoboken as we usher in destigmatization and cannabis legalization in the Garden State. I’m honored to be but a small part of bringing safe and exciting products to everyone in my hometown.”

“We want to help educate patients and consumers, destigmatize cannabis and celebrate the role intentional cannabis consumption can play in nourishing our bodies, minds and relationships while highlighting the positive role cannabis can and will play in the local community and economy,” he went on to say.

Prior to founding The Station, Castelo was an indie filmmaker who leveraged his business acumen to build successful and thriving Hoboken businesses: Antique Bar & Bakery, The Antique Loft and Sweven, a members-only coworking space. He resides in the Mile Square City with his wife and writing partner, Ashley, and their two daughters.

The Station is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Grasshopper Farms

In Galloway Township, officials granted the municipality’s first-ever authorization of a cannabis business license, paving the way for the opening of a cultivator and manufacturer.

During an Oct. 24 meeting, the seven-member township council unanimously approved a redevelopment agreement with Grasshopper Farms to set up an indoor growing operation on 40 acres of farmland along Cologne Avenue owned by longtime residents Duane K. and Pamela Demaree.

The Michigan brand first came before the township in February seeking the OK to establish an outdoor growing facility; however, local ordinances prohibit such activity, prompting Grasshopper Farms to drop those plans and switch to indoor cultivation, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

Last week’s approval follows “a series of deliberate considerations and meticulous evaluations,” a process that Grasshopper Farms said resulted in “several key milestones,” including “the resolution of critical concerns and the definition of essential parameters for the cultivation of cannabis within the township.”

Grasshopper Farms’ founder and CEO Will Bowden told NJBIZ he hopes the facility will be operational within the next 90 days.

Currently, the business has its annual license approval from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. After retrofitting the property’s existing building and barn for the purpose of cannabis growing, Grasshopper Farms will request final state and local inspections to verify the facility is compliant, he said.

Bowden went on to thank the local governing body for giving their due diligence to such a complex matter and said his venture will be focused on demonstrating regulatory and operational excellence.

“We are honored to be entrusted with this unique opportunity as the inaugural recipient of Galloway Township’s cannabis license,” stated Bowden. “Grasshopper Farms is committed to upholding the highest standards of operation and ensuring harmonious coexistence with our local residents. We look forward to fostering a positive relationship with the community and contributing to the growth and prosperity of Galloway Township.”