WARETOWN, NJ — Ocean County’s first legalized cannabis business has opened as of July 5, and the team at Waretown’s Bloc Dispensary encourages residents to throw out their old-fashioned ideas about marijuana and give them a chance.
Bloc Dispensary, located at 501 U.S. 9 South, is a purely medical cannabis facility, as required by Waretown’s laws. You need to have a medical marijuana card to even enter the store.
Patch was there on its opening day as a steady amount of customers entered the store, hoping to get their hands on the products they needed.
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The location is the first medical marijuana business in Ocean County, Bloc’s third dispensary in the state and also has something few other dispensaries across the country have – a drive thru option, which was actually used for the first time as Patch was visiting the facility. It’s only the second drive thru option for cannabis stores in New Jersey, with the other one located in Lodi.
And the store carries a variety of products that manager Johnny Ventura said hopes will serve to “break that stigma” many have about marijuana.
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Bloc Dispensary does not just sell cannabis flowers used to smoke, though of course they do carry the “buds” themselves and in pre-rolled form.
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Lotions for topical pain relief and edibles for things like anxiety are popular products at other Bloc locations (including in their house brand, Crops). Some products allow patients to “microdose” and can use them throughout the day for relief. Not all provide the euphoric effect, Ventura told Patch, and are still beneficial to those in need.
District manager Theresa Adamson emphasized the all-natural aspect of medical cannabis, as opposed to using opioids or other pharmaceuticals.
“This is a plant, with nothing added, and it grows by God’s hands,” Adamson said.
While due its location its anticipated that much of the customer base will be senior citizens, Adamson said that she’s seen the benefits of cannabis used on children with autism, people with epilepsy, veterans with PTSD and more.
And the business hopes to be more than just a business – they want to serve the Waretown community. Adamson, a Bayville native herself, noted that many workers in this location are from the area.
There’s “nothing like opening in your hometown,” Adamson said.
They hire veterans and retired police officers, including Kyle Flatt, a former member of the Township of Ocean Police Department.
Bloc engages in community outreach, having met with other local businesses, and offers consulting services to help those in need get medical marijuana cards. The store has five bilingual associates to help, too.
Adamson “took her time” selecting the employees, Ventura said. While many do come from the surrounding areas there are also workers from places like Trenton to give them the opportunity to work at the shore, Adamson said.
And they hope to continue sharing goodwill by hosting food drives, clothing drives, cleaning parks and helping in “whatever way we can.”
“Everyone’s welcome to the Bloc,” Adamson said.
For more information on the Waretown location, visit the Bloc Dispensary website.
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