NORTH CAPE MAY – Sea & Leaf, a retail cannabis store located in the North Cape May Shopping Center, has received final approval of its license from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
According to Andrew Sick, attorney for the applicant, the store should be able to begin retail sales of cannabis products in February 2024, pending the result of a final inspection.
This will be the second retail cannabis store to open in Cape May County. The first, Shore House Canna, which is located in West Cape May, had its grand opening on Oct. 28.
Jimmie Singh, the Sea & Leaf license holder, had opened a smoke shop in the North Cape May Shopping Center at the location of a former church sanctuary. Singh recently told the Herald the smoke shop, at 3860 Bayshore Road, had been closed for renovations in preparation to convert it to the retail cannabis facility.
Singh said the process of getting an annual license has taken about two years. Sea & Leaf received a conditional license in September 2022. A conditional license is a provisional license pursuant to an abbreviated application process that gives applicants more time to get property or municipal approval.
In June 2021 the Lower Township Council approved an ordinance allowing two cannabis licenses to be issued. On Jan. 4, 2023, the council created an overlay zone within the general business zone to allow cannabis sales. Singh on Dec. 7 got final approval of the annual license, allowing him to sell cannabis products, such as smokable flowers, edibles and vape cartridges.
He said the tentative opening is set for February, and that he anticipated the last step in the process – an inspection by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission – to happen sometime in January.
“We don’t have an official inspection day, but I’m expecting to have the inspection around Jan. 15,” he said.
Singh said the public would be updated as to the specific opening date.
He said Sea & Leaf is under the same requirements as Shore House Canna. He said a certain level of security is required, such as an alarm system, and he is hiring a security company to provide a guard. No one under 21 will be allowed inside the store, and there will be no products on the sales floor, as required by the state.
Singh said Sea & Leaf is a family-owned business, which began with smoke shops. He said they decided to take the next step after recreational cannabis sales were legalized in New Jersey. He said he understands there are some people who have concerns about a cannabis shop in the community, but that people should be assured that all the security steps required by the state are being taken.
“There is also nothing shown in the window. People can’t see anything from the outside,” he said. “And none of the product will be consumed on the property.”
Singh said people will be able to order and pay for their cannabis products online. He said they will be able to use curbside pickup, where their ID will be checked before the product is handed over. Sea & Leaf will also provide delivery of its products, which also will require an ID before the customer can accept them.
He said Sea & Leaf is still working on its website.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
