DENNISVILLE – At the Aug. 28 Dennis Township Committee meeting a presentation was made by Evergreen Curative LLC regarding its interest in applying for a state medical marijuana license and potentially locating a facility in Dennis Township.
Emmett Vandergrift, co-owner of Evergreen Curative LLC, a New Jersey-based medical marijuana organization, asked the committee if the township would support or oppose such a facility.
In July the state announced a plan to double the number of licenses available for medical marijuana dispensaries in New Jersey.
Currently, there are six licensed dispensaries. With the additional six licenses being made available South Jersey will be allocated two.
New Jersey medical marijuana dispensary operators would be required to go beyond simply running a cash register. As with the existing six dispensaries, the new locations would handle virtually every aspect of the trade.
The operators would be in charge of growing cannabis plants, manufacturing it into various consumable forms of marijuana — such as raw flower, oils, and edibles — and selling it at the dispensary.
Evergreen plans to build five to six greenhouses on a 30-acre plot, as yet to be identified, to produce the cannabis that would be processed for medical purposes.
Vandergrift said that the organization’s goal is to establish safe, efficient and world-class medical marijuana cultivation, processing and dispensing facility that would provide relief for patients with debilitating conditions. Vandergrift pointed out that having a dispensary located in the county would be a benefit to those local patients that depend on medical marijuana for treatment.
Presently, Egg Harbor is the closest dispensary for the residents of Cape May County. For some, that drive could take 45 minutes to almost two hours.
He added, a facility would also benefit the township economically, and that “South Jersey needs innovative, economic growth.”
Evergreen’s business plan anticipates adding tangible value through providing up to 160 full-time jobs in the cultivation and processing facility. In addition to hiring veterans, minorities, women and local community residents, a significant portion of construction expenditures will go to local businesses in the form of engaging contractors and procuring material.
The company intends to return 3 percent of gross revenue directly to the community host as well as an additional $15,000 annually in charitable donations to local organizations.
Additional jobs and revenue would be generated by operating the dispensing facility.
Mayor Zeth Matalucci responded to the presentation by indicating that presently the committee would be uncomfortable making a decision concerning its support or nonsupport of a facility in the township.
After some discussion it was decided that the committee would provide a letter to Evergreen Curative LLC stating that the township would, in the future, be willing to have a non-binding referendum placed on the ballot to allow the voters of the township to have a voice in the matter.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
