Ascend To Begin Selling Recreational Marijuana At Bergen Location, Plans Fort Lee Store

ROCHELLE PARK, NJ — Ascend Wellness Holdings will begin selling recreational marijuana in northern New Jersey, the company said Tuesday.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved applications Monday from seven companies to expand their medical-cannabis facilities into the recreational market. One of them was Ascend New Jersey, which has locations in Rochelle Park and Montclair.

Pending inspections, the state will allow the seven companies to expand into recreational services into 13 dispensaries across New Jersey. That could mean adult, recreational sales at New Jersey stores as soon as this month.

"AWH has served thousands of patients since entering New Jersey's medical market in May 2021, and we are equipped to offer the same affordable and safe cannabis experiences to our growing community of adult-use consumers," said Frank Perullo, president of AWH. "Our knowledgeable retail team at Ascend Rochelle Park is prepared to welcome consumers at every stage of their cannabis journeys and provide personalized guidance for all lifestyles and preferences."

Medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed to sell recreational cannabis under state law, but have to prioritize their patients, who have been complaining about a chronic lack of supply and high prices for years.

Read More: New Jersey Marijuana Patients Need Lower Prices, More Weed

"We are getting closer to the opening of the market," said Jeff Brown, the state cannabis commission's executive director. "We are approving applications for new applicants and have now made way for the ATCs to expand. We are now tasked with completing inspections of the ATCs and getting them permitted to open for business to the general public."