Woodbridge Marijuana Store Now Selling Recreational Weed, Too

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Garden State Dispensary, the marijuana store on Rt. 1 in Woodbridge — which up until now only sold medical marijuana — started selling recreational weed at 10 a.m. Wednesday, NJ.com reported.

How much does it cost? The price of marijuana is regulated — not fixed — by the state of New Jersey, but prices do vary by store: Currently, an eighth of an ounce costs about $50 to $65, which is $400 to $520 per ounce, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Garden State Dispensary is owned by AYR Wellness, which owns two other weed shops in New Jersey (Eatontown and Union). They applied to expand into recreational marijuana sales, and were approved by the state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission in late May.

This is the only store in Woodbridge Township that will be allowed to sell recreational marijuana.

Last June, the Woodbridge Council passed this town ordinance that allowed Garden State Dispensary to expand into recreational sales, but said they would be the only store in town allowed to sell recreational pot. No other retail pot shop is allowed to open in Woodbridge Township.

"We're a big town; I think it's appropriate we have one (marijuana business)," Mayor John McCormac told Patch at the time. "But we don't want any more."

However, the ordinance does allow anyone to apply to open a weed grow/cultivation business anywhere in Woodbridge that is zoned for manufacturing or industrial. There are many industrial zones in Woodbridge Twp.

"There are lots of spaces in town it can be grown or cultivated; it can be grown in a warehouse," said McCormac last June. "We just don't want it being grown next to houses, a school, a playground, things like that."

Back when marijuana was only approved for medical use in New Jersey, the state chose Woodbridge as one of six spots for a medical marijuana shop. Woodbridge had no say in the matter.

Garden State Dispensary opened on Rt. 1 north in Woodbridge in 2013.

McCormac said there were some "hiccups" the first few weeks Garden State Dispensary opened: Neighboring Rt. 1 businesses complained to the town about a very strong marijuana smell coming from the store.

"Since then, it's been fine," said the mayor.