3 Cannabis Businesses OK'd In Lakehurst; Now They Wait For NJ Approval

LAKEHURST, NJ — Lakehurst officials have given their approval for three recreational cannabis businesses in the borough.

Now they wait to see if state Cannabis Regulatory Commission will include any of the businesses in potential approvals when the commission meets Oct. 20.

The Lakehurst Borough Council unanimously approved the three businesses — a manufacturer license and two retail licenses — at its Sept. 15 council meeting.

It approved Life Extracts LLC for a Class 2 cannabis manufacturer license for an operation that will be in the light industrial zone. The retail licenses were approves for Stoke Industries LLC to be located at 112 Center St. and for C3 Lakehurst LLC at 145 Route 70, former Burger King property.

Lakehurst Mayor Harry Robbins said borough officials are considering amending the borough's ordinance to allow two retail cannabis businesses in the borough's B-2 business zone, which runs along Route 70, which would allow it to approve a second one on the western portion of the Route 70 corridor. The former Burger King site is on the eastern half, according to minutes from the council meeting.

Lakehurst is one of three Ocean County towns that are permitting recreational marijuana businesses. South Toms River and Waretown also are in the process of approving cannabis licenses for businesses in their towns.

The state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission has not approved any new licenses since April, and it is unclear from the agenda for the Oct. 20 meeting how many might be approved. The retail licenses it has approved so far have been for existing medical marijuana dispensaries.

There are 19 dispensaries in New Jersey that offer both recreational and medicinal marijuana and nine that offer only medical marijuana, and none are located in Ocean County.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission meeting, set for 1 p.m. Oct. 20, is scheduled to be livestreamed. Information on the meeting and its agenda are on the commssion's website.