New Weed Joint Stinking Up North Jersey Town, Locals Say: Report

READINGTON, NJ — Check the yard for skunks all you want, but it appears the smell is coming from a different source in one North Jersey town. Verano Holdings, a medical-marijuana cultivator, replaced a vacant Walmart in Readington, and some neighbors are noticing its stench, according to News 12 New Jersey.

Verano announced the move into the 120,000-square foot cultivation facility last April. With brands such as Zen Leaf and MÜV, the company has firmly established itself in the medical-marijuana industry.

New Jersey legalized adult, recreational use of cannabis Feb. 22. While the state previously allowed medical marijuana, the new laws represent opportunities for the cannabis industry as a whole to expand.

“New Jersey’s expansion into adult-use is a significant milestone within a core market of ours, and presents exciting growth potential for Verano,” Verano co-founder and CEO George Archos said in a press release.

Verano Holdings did not return comment in time for initial publication, but Patch will update with any response.

While Readington residents aren't necessarily against New Jersey's new laws, some of them are holding their noses about welcoming the new Route 22 facility.

“I don't think the state of New Jersey is ready for any of this,” Lyle Armstrong, of Readington, told News 12. “Nobody is done their homework. Somebody approved this. They rushed it through, and there's guinea pigs out there. You can see, I'm the main guinea pig.”

Sixty-eight neighbors signed a petition calling for the township to do something about the odors, according to News 12.

The Readington facility is not a dispenary. Zen Leaf has three New Jersey shops, according to its website — in Elizabeth, Neptune and Lawrence Township.

The land in Readington is zoned for agricultural use, and Verano received a license to operate in early 2020, according to News 12.

See the full story here from News 12.