Cannabis Dispensary Approved To Open Near Wayne

HALEDON, NJ — Wayne Township residents who enjoy cannabis may soon have a shorter trip for legally purchasing the substance. State regulators approved a retailer license for a Haledon-based business, paving the way for a dispensary in the borough.

Wayne's Township Council voted in April 2021 to ban recreational-weed businesses from operating within the township. The closest dispensary offering medicinal or recreational cannabis is RISE, a Paterson business that offers both.

• Related article: Wayne Council Approves Ordinance Banning Marijuana Businesses

During Wednesday's meeting, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved a state retailer license for Molly Ann Farms LLC. The business is slated to open at 265 Belmont Ave., Haledon — a few minutes away from William Paterson University.

Haledon's council granted local approval last March for Molly Ann Farms to open at the site. Opening a cannabis business in New Jersey requires both state and municipal approval.

While the adult use of recreational cannabis has been legal in New Jersey since early 2021, recreational sales at dispensaries began last April. The state currently has 21 dispensaries offering both recreational and medical weed, along with 11 offering medical only.