Ribbon Cutting As Eatontown's Medical Marijuana Store Opens

EATONTOWN, NJ — Provided by state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), here are photos of the ribbon cutting at Garden State Dispensary in Eatontown last Thursday.

This is the first medical marijuana shop in either Monmouth or Ocean counties. It is located at 59 Rt. 35, near the entrance to the old Fort Monmouth property.

"This medical facility will play an important role in helping thousands of patients in Monmouth County," said Gopal, who attended the ribbon cutting.

There is growing interest across New Jersey in medical marijuana: Monmouth County has 7,341 people enrolled in its medical marijuana program, the fourth largest enrollment by county in the state. Across the state, there are currently more than 86,000 patients, 3,300 caregivers and 1,200 physicians enrolled in New Jersey's medical marijuana program.

You cannot purchase medical marijuana in New Jersey without a prescription from a doctor.

The Eatontown shop is the 12th facility dispensing marijuana for medical use in New Jersey.

The 11 other dispensaries include Greenleaf Compassion Center of Montclair, The Botanist (Compassionate Care Foundation) of Egg Harbor and Atlantic City, Garden State Dispensary of Woodbridge and Union Township, Breakwater Alternative Treatment Center of Cranbury, Curaleaf NJ, Inc. in Bellmawr, Harmony Dispensary in Secaucus, Rise in Paterson, Zen Leaf Elizabeth and Columbia Care in Vineland.

Last week, the all-Republican Ocean County Board of Freeholders unanimously voted against the upcoming Nov. 3 ballot question that asks New Jersey voters to legalize recreational marijuana.