Columbia Care Inc. opened its first of three New Jersey medical cannabis dispensaries Thursday in Vineland.
The new dispensary, located at 1062 N. Delsea Drive, is one of only three operators licensed to dispense in South Jersey, and only the 11th to open a dispensary statewide.
It will be supported by a 50,000-square-foot cultivation and manufacturing facility, slated to produce its first harvest next month to supply this dispensary and Columbia Care’s New Jersey wholesale operations.
Columbia Care, along with MPX and Verano, were granted cultivation permits by the New Jersey Department of Health in February.
NAI Mertz negotiated the property sale in Vineland for Colubmia Care, the firm announced in March. – NAI MERTZ
“Our opening in New Jersey marks a significant turning point and we’re excited to bring our industry-leading services and exceptional team to a new market, especially at a time when patients need them most,” said Nicholas Vita, chief executive officer of Columbia Care, in a prepared statement.
“We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from the local and state governments, and remain committed to creating new jobs, increasing access to high-quality cannabis products, and improving the lives of New Jersey’s residents,” he said.
Vita noted the November ballot measure that, if passed, would permit adult use cannabis in New Jersey; and said that two other planned dispensaries would position Columbia Care to be a market leader in the state.
Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Care patients will also have access to the Columbia National Credit Card to facilitate ordering and cashless transactions, which according to the company is the first and only legal credit card for cannabis purchases.
This is the second dispensary to open in New Jersey this month after Verano opened its doors in Elizabeth last week. Both organizations were part of the “new six,” the alternative treatment centers granted permits from the 2018 Request for Applications application process.
The most recent RFA process from 2019 is currently tied up in a legal battle due to a technical glitch with the DOH portal that allegedly resulted in approximately 15 applications being wrongfully disqualified. Twenty-four more licenses for cannabis retail, manufacturing, or both will be issued when the 2019 RFA process is complete.
