Shamong Cannabis Growers Association

August 1, 2023 – At today’s Township Committee meeting, the township committee members approved a letter of support for Southern Jersey Bud, LLC., a potential cannabis manufacturer, distribution and retail seller in Shamong. Southern Bud, a woman owned company, along with the regulatory support group Kline Bud, presented their intention to convert the Shamong Diner and associated buildings into a retail, manufacturing, and distribution complex. Mr. Russel Kuchta (a principal with Southern Jersey Bud) and Manny Monteiro (the current owner and chef at the Shamong Diner) have entered into an agreement to convert the diner and associated buildings into a cannabis complex. According to Mr. Kuchta, the three building which encompass the diner, country store, and accessory building, would be converted to a manufacturing facility, retail business, and distribution center for the manufactured cannabis products. Mr. Monteiro may be a partner in the proposed business.

Shamong township recognizes five categories for cannabis operations. The proposed property use would be for Class II-Manufacturing, Class III-Wholesale, and Class V-Retail. Of these classes, Class V is only allowed in Shamong as an accessory use to another class. Because the Shamong Diner is located within one of Shamong’s development zones, Class 1 through 4 are a conditionally permitted use and Class 5 is a conditionally permitted accessory use. Shamong township had previously declared portions of Route 206 as an area for potential development.

Mr. Kuchta, who is a pharmacist, who said he recognized a need in this region for formulations that include cannabinoids in creams and balms. His intention is to bring in cannabis oils from other suppliers which will be combined with ingredients to manufacture balms, a plant based aromatic preparation and healing ointment. These would be sold in the retail establishment and distributed to other unnamed businesses through the distribution center. Mr. Kuchta indicated that the potency of the cannabis oils will be pre-determined prior to receipt by his establishment so on-site testing would be limited.

The retail establishment, which will be house in what is currently the country store, will sell the balms along with other cannabis products.

When asked about funding for the project, the presenters noted the difficulty in securing conventional funding sources, given the federal regulations regarding cannabis. Mr. Kuchta indicated that private funding was already in place and suggested that the proposed facility would require about 500 thousand dollars in upgrades including security and odor control. He said that he had already initiated conversations with the local state police.

The township committee members voted to approve the letter of support, with the exception of Mr. Martin Mozitis who was absent from the meeting. The township solicitor, Mr. Doug Heinold, commented that the business plan was a good option for the township given the limited modifications required to the property given the intended use as compared to other agricultural uses that would require substantial infrastructure and Pinelands approval. Mr. Kuchta indicated that water consumption and waste removal would be very limited given the nature of the proposed business. These are typical stumbling blocks for Pinelands approval.

Ms. Sue Onorato, Township Administrator, pressed Mr. Kuchta on potential local employment opportunities for the proposed business. It is estimated that the operation will require approximately 15 employees with a pay rate of around $18 per hour. Mr. Kutcha indicated a preference to employ local residents.

The township letter of approval is the first step in a relatively lengthy process. Mr. Kutcha hopes to have additional approvals and state licenses in-place in the next few months. He will be ready to go to Shamong’s Joint Land Use Board for construction approval shortly thereafter.

See more local news here:

Local News August 1, 2023 – At today’s Township Committee meeting, the township committee members approved a letter of support for Southern Jersey Bud, LLC., a potential cannabis manufacturer, dis…

At last week's Shamong Township Committee meeting, Mr. Doug Heinold, Esq. the township's solicitor, indicated that there may be modification required to the township's original cannabis ordinance. SCGA reached out to Mr. Heinold to follow-up on these potential changes.

DH: "The ordinance was done prior to the State legislation and prior to our zoning ordinance. There is language about anticipated “farm” production and a number of other areas, where the State law and our subsequent zoning effectively repealed those sections. But we need to go back and clean it up a bit so that there is no confusion. Some people were calling Sue [Onorato] saying that we allowed retail, which we don’t. At least not as a principal use, and where we do allow it is only on Route 206."

Mr. Heinold stated that he hoped to get a draft in the hands of the Township committee by the end of this week. For more local news visit: www.shamongcannabis.com
or
https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News August 2, 2022 – At the recent township committee meeting, Doug Heinold, Esq. township solicitor, indicated that the initial township ordinance outlining Shamong’s position of cannabis …

A new article in South Jersey Magazine by Madeleine Maccar spotlights the current state of adult recreational cannabis use in NJ.

"Those in the business of cannabis have nothing but praise for the early days of recreational adult-use cannabis, saying that all signs point toward a successful future."

A link to the article is here:

https://www.southjerseymagazine.com/article/3043/A-Budding-Industry

A Budding Industry - SouthJerseyMagazine.com South Jersey Magazine is the premier publication in Southern NJ. South Jersey Magazine attracts an upscale readership thanks to its local editorial focus on varying topics ranging from arts and culture, health and beauty, sports, fine dining and entertainment to name a few.

Big news today. Pure cultivations, llc which has an option on property in the industrial park, has been granted a provisional license for cannabis cultivation. Mike Rudderow said he is excited about the opportunity to start his cannabis business in Shamong.

April 5, 2022 - Cannabis was again a topic at the Shamong Township meeting tonight. First a local resident from Burnt House Road voiced concerns about cannabis operations proposed for the industrial park. He stated that while he was not opposed to bring cannabis cultivation into town, he requested that the township give additional consideration to local residents that may be impacted by siting a grow facility near residential property. He also mentioned that he had seen additional traffic canvasing the area and also someone using a commercial drone to video properties. See additional ordinances introduced during the committee meeting here:

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News March 4, 2022 – Members of the Cannabis Subcommittee traveled to Nutrastar Inc. which is located in Farmingdale, NJ. Nutrastar and is part of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing ind…

We now have three cannabis businesses looking to set up shop in Shamong with additional interested parties coming forward all the time. So far, there is interest in the property on 206 across from the Shamong Diner and also two parcels in the industrial zone. Check out the local news on the Shamong Cannabis Growers Association web site:

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News March 4, 2022 – Members of the Cannabis Subcommittee traveled to Nutrastar Inc. which is located in Farmingdale, NJ. Nutrastar and is part of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing ind…

Cannabis conversations dominated last night’s township meeting. There were two resolutions on the schedule for a vote. The first, 2021R-105 Authorizing resolution to serve as letter of support for Lexicann NJ, LLC for Property at Block 23.1, Lot 10.08 (Old Indian Mills Road and route 206) and to further certify zoning; and second, 2021R-106 Authorizing resolution to serve as letter of support for (Legacy) Cultivators, LLC for Property at Block 27.02, Lot 2 (Stokes Road and Willow Grove Road) and to further certify zoning. The meeting was attended by both parties, attorney’s for Lexicann and the principal member of Legacy, Mr. Dominique Easly. The meeting was also attended by the full Shamong Cannabis Subcommittee. Both resolutions passed with all committee member in attendance voting yes.

Lexicann NJ LLC. Intends to build a new facility on property across 206 from the Shamong diner. They are pursuing a Class 1 Cultivation and Class 2 Manufacturing license. Doug Heinold, township solicitor, indicated that property does fall under a conditional permitted use, although they may need to get secondary use zoning/variance due to an existing building being on the property.

Legacy Cultivators LLC. also intends to develop their 4 acre property at the corner of Stoke and Willow Grove Roads across from the township building. They are planning a conventional building although the size was not indicated. This is also the area of the proposed township roundabout. Mr. Easly indicated that the roundabout and development of the property would be complimentary. Legacy Cultivators is seeking a Class 1 cultivators license and potentially a Class 2 manufacturing license.

Mr. Heinold indicated that Shamong does not have a cap on the number of cannabis licenses allowed by the township. Some municipalities have instituted a cap, however, this may conflict with the license evaluation by the state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Mr. Gimbel, township Mayor, said that in effect Shamong has a “soft cap” given that there are a limited number of parcels in the township that are zoned for cannabis operations.

The November 2021 Shamong township committee meeting was held last night and a few cannabis related issues were discussed.

During the public comment session, a representative for the property owners directly adjacent to Murphy's pit indicated the owner's desire to cultivate cannabis on her property. They inquired whether the current "cannabis permitted use" carve-out for Murphy's pit could be extended to encompass the neighboring property. The representative expressed a desired to avoid pursuing a variance which could be time consuming and costly. The lot appears to be zoned residential according to Shamong tax records. Mayor Gimble indicated that this could be one of the topics discussed later that night during executive session.

Also related to Murphy's pit: Big Solar, who for several years now has been looking to put a solar farm within the pit and landfill area, is again delaying their application for a few more weeks. Apparently they are now also interested in cannabis cultivation on the property in addition to a solar farm. Mr. Heinold, Shamong's attorney, is meeting with Big Solar in the coming weeks to discuss their plans.

It appears that Shamong is gaining more interest in their cannabis initiatives with at least 5 entities now interested in growing within the township. These include at least three current residents and a couple of outside companies. Mayor Gimble indicated that even though there is some interest in the town, nothing has been completed yet.

October 28, 2021 - Going into November 2021 and little has changed in the township's pursuit of enticing cannabis growers to our area. SCGA reached out to Mr. Doug Heinold, Esq., Shamong's legal counsel, to get his take on where we stand. See his response here: https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News October 28, 2021 – Going into November 2021 and little has changed in the township’s pursuit of enticing cannabis growers to our area. SCGA reached out to Mr. Doug Heinold, Esq., Shamon…

Last week, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission adopted an initial set of regulations which will govern the recreational cannabis industry in New Jersey.

Read Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. assessment of the new cannabis regulations.

https://www.lindabury.com/firm/anderson/new-jersey-adopts-initial-cannabis-regulations-addressing-licensing-and-the-application-process.html

New Jersey Adopts Initial Cannabis Regulations Addressing Licensing and the Application Process — August 23, 2021 — Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. Firm News & Events At a meeting of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (the “CRC”) held on August 19, 2021, an initial set of regulations were adopted which will

Steve Soppe has been busy tracking down the new Cannabis Regulations. Here is a breakdown of what he found:

New Jersey Cannabis Commission's website: https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/

Link to the Rules: https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/resources/rules/

There are three links to pdf documents:
Fee Schedule - https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/documents/rules/CRC%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf
Final Rules Summary - https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/documents/rules/Final%20Rule%20Summary.pdf
Personal Use Rules (160 pages) - https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/documents/rules/NJAC%201730%20Personal%20Use%20Cannabis.pdf

Rules For Recreational Cannabis Market Rules For Recreational Cannabis Market

A new article in The New York Times discusses the varied approaches towns are taking with cannabis legalization. Shamong township in featured prominently in the article.

“My goal is to make Shamong the pot capital of New Jersey,” said Michael Di Croce, Shamong’s Republican deputy mayor.

Read the text here:

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News The New York TimesBy Tracey TullyJuly 19, 2021, 5:00 a.m. ETThe $8 Billion Question: Which Towns Will Cash In on Ma*****na? After legalization, municipalities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticu…

A couple of cannabis related issues were discussed and approved at last night's township meeting. First, Mr. Di Croce made the motion to appoint Michael Frysztacki to the cannabis sub-committee, seconded by Mr. Cooney, YES vote by all members. Mr. Frysztacki rounds out the subcommittee which also includes Mr. Di Croce, Mr. Martin Mozitis, Mr. Neil Wilkinson and Mr. Steve Soppe. The subcommittee is assisted by Ms. Sue Onorato and Mr. Doug Heinold, Esq.

The Shamong Cannabis Ordinance was passed by the town counsil a couple of months ago now, but it is still being modified as issues arise. At last night's meeting, Ordnance 2021-7 was introduced which clarifies the Transfer Tax that the township will impose through the cannabis process--cultivation through retail and distribution. A public hearing is scheduled for August 3, 2021. 1 abstain vote from Mr. Gray, YES vote from everyone else.

You can read a draft of the ordinance here: https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/proposed-legislation/

No action was taken in executive session.

Thank you Mr. Soppe for taking notes at the meeting!

Proposed Local and State Legislation Local Legislation: To read the 2018 resolution introduced by Mayor Dicroce click here New!! Second reading of the Shamong Ordinance governing the regulation of cannabis. Shamong Township Ordinance …

Update to the post below: During a discussion of the zoning ordinance at the township meeting on June 1, 2021, Mr. Cooney indicated that the language proposed by the deputy mayor may be to onerous for several locations given that distances are measured from the property lines and not the establishment within the site. For instance, while a cannabis facility on a large tract of land could be sited several hundred feet from a school, the property line itself could fall within 300ft of the school and therefore violate the ordinance.
https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News Update to the post below: During a discussion of the zoning ordinance at the township meeting on June 1, 2021, Mr. Cooney indicated that the language proposed by the deputy mayor may be to onerous …

June 1, 2021 – At the regular township meeting, there was a second reading of Shamong’s cannabis zoning ordinance. The ordinance passed with one of the committee members abstaining and all others voting yes. Additionally, deputy mayor Mr. Dicroce offered additional language to Shamong's cannabis ordinance which would limit where cannabis establishment could be sited: “within the commercial, agricultural, redevelopment or industrial zones, the property line of a cannabis facility cannot, without a variance from the zoning board, be closer than 300 feet from the property lines of existing schools, child-care centers, houses of worship, public parks, behavioral health care facilities or residential medical detoxification centers”. Mr. Dicroce also stated that he has met with several large cannabis growers looking to headquarter in Shamong. According to their proposed business plans, Shamong township potentially could see hundreds of thousands if not millions in tax revenue from just one of these operations. The cannabis sub-committee is meeting on June 2, 2021 to survey potential areas in Shamong that fit within the newly enacted zoning ordinance as well as Mr. Dicroce’s proposed language.
https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News June 1, 2021 – At the regular township meeting, there was a second reading of Shamong’s cannabis zoning ordinance. The ordinance passed with one of the committee members abstaining and …

Shamong Cannabis Growers Association has added some recent updates to our web site. You can now also donate to the SCGA through the site to help maintain and enhance our reach.

www.shamongcannabis.com

Shamong Cannabis Growers Association A clearing house for information on the cannabis industry in Shamong NJ.

Shamong Cannabis Growers Association updated their phone number.

Shamong Cannabis Growers Association updated their business hours.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Shamong Township Committee, Ordinance 2021-6 was introduced which aims to establish zones for various Cannabis activities in town. The township has 180 days from the state law being signed (February 22, 2021) to decide whether or not to establish (“opt-in”) certain classes of Cannabis activities to be allowed in town. If they do not act within this timeframe, then all Cannabis related activities are automatically allowed in all zones.

There are 6 classes: Cultivator, Manufacturer, Wholesaler, Distributor, Retailer, and Delivery. Delivery can not be dis-allowed by the township, so Cannabis/marijuana could still be delivered to Shamong residents from outside vendors even if all other activities were not allowed in town.

The proposed Ordinance seeks to establish permitted zones for all classes of Cannabis within Shamong town limits. In summary, the Ordinance proposed: Classes 1 through 5 shall be conditionally permitted uses within the Route 206 Redevelopment Area, Classes 1 through 4 shall be conditionally permitted uses within the Industrial Park Redevelopment Area, and Classes 1 through 4 shall be conditionally permitted uses within the Murphy’s Pit Rehabilitation Area.

At this time, the Ordinance does not allow for any Cannabis cultivation in Shamong’s agricultural zones, but the township does intend to do so. The township is still committed to micro-growers but it is “opting out” at this time. The township committee is reserving action on this zone until such time that the State provides more guidance. “It is the Township’s intent to revisit this and create conditionally permitted uses in agricultural zones when the State regulations are promulgated and the planning implications can be further studied.”

The ordinance also establishes condition use requirements including: security, hours-of-operation, setbacks, odor control, noise, lighting and signage.

What do you think about the proposed zones? Send me an email with your thoughts or suggestions: [email protected]

Pickleball and cannabis were two initiatives discussed at the township meeting earlier this month. While pickleball dominated the news in both The Pine Barrens Tribune and Shamong Sun papers, the adoption of the Cannabis Ordinance was also mentioned, albeit buried in the articles.

The second reading of ordinance 2021-4 Governing the Production, Distribution and Sale of Cannabis; and, subsequent approval of the ordinance by the township board paves the way for this industry's entry into Shamong.

Both articles can be found here:

https://thesunpapers.com/2021/02/09/pot-and-pickleball-hot-topics-at-shamong-committee-meeting/

https://pinebarrenstribune.com/shamong-setting-up-pickleball-courts-after-seneca-high-gym-teacher-attest-p4056-165.htm

Shamong Setting Up 2 Pickleball Courts After Seneca High Gym Teacher Attests to Growing Area Enthusiasm for Sport Pickleball is a little less demanding than tennis, and it’s a fun and easy way to get a good workout, gym teacher says.

Letter to the township regarding the new Cannabis Ordinance:

Over the past few months we have had an opportunity to gage the support for the ordinance through our web site—Shamong Cannabis Growers Association. Additionally, several residents have joined SCGA as we endeavor to keep members abreast of township cannabis initiatives. We have come to understand that it is a very diverse slice of our community that backs the township as it pursues being “the Cannabis Capital of NJ”. Consequently, our read of the ordinance was with this population in mind.

With regard to 64-2 (b) (1), We understand the township’s desire to maintain the rural nature of our community; and, we believe the 50% rule is justified in meeting this goal. Our suggestion is that the language of that paragraph be modified to more reflect our diverse farming community. We would suggest the following alternative text:

1. Licensed local farms shall be permitted to grow, manufacture, transport, and distribute cannabis, h**p, and related products. The Township encourages that at least 50% of the farm be maintained in its original form prior to the implementation of this ordinance as described in Farmland Assessment documents, or actively farmed with 50% of native trees, plants, fruits, or vegetables, as customarily grown in the South Jersey region so as to promote and preserve the safety, health and welfare of our citizens, preserving Pinelands farm, air and estuaries;

With regard to 64-4:

While we understand the township’s desire to proceed judiciously in regard to forming a Cannabis Control Board, it is our belief that such a board should be formed expeditiously to oversee rule enforcement, permitting, zoning issues or other issues as may arise during role out of this ordinance.

Finally, with regard to 64-6(e):

The limitation of three distribution establishments that distribute directly to the public appears to be arbitrary. This limitation should be set to another benchmark, such as local population census. For instance, the ordinance could be written that there will be at least one distribution establishment for each 2000 residents (or a number to be determine by previous experience in other communities). This number should be reviewed on an periodic basis by the Shamong Cannabis Control Board with recommendations then provided to the township committee.

Hot off the presses tonight...Shamong Township has released the draft for the second reading of Shamong Ordinance 2021-4 which will regulate the cultivation, distribution and sale of cannabis in the township. This will be read at the upcoming township meeting on February 2, 2021. Get an advanced read of the ordinance on Shamong Cannabis Growers Association's web site.

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/proposed-legislation/

Proposed Local and State Legislation Local Legislation: To read the 2018 resolution introduced by Mayor Dicroce click here New!! Second reading of the Shamong Ordinance governing the regulation of cannabis. Shamong Township Ordinance …

A new article in the Shamong Sun discusses former NFL player Dominique Easely's desire to be one of the first residents to bring Cannabis cultivation to Shamong.

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News December 21, 2020 Click on the link below for a great article on Cannabis Micro Licenses for small NJ businesses: “For cannabis growers, a microbusiness can grow cannabis with a canopy grow a…

Check out some of the new links in the SCGA "Local News" Section. A new article discusses the carve out in the cannabis legislation for "Micro-businesses", small NJ resident operations including cultivation.

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News December 21, 2020 Click on the link below for a great article on Cannabis Micro Licenses for small NJ businesses: “For cannabis growers, a microbusiness can grow cannabis with a canopy grow a…

December 3, 2020 - Solar Therapeutics, a Somerset Massachusetts based cannabis cultivator, looks to partner with Mayor Michael DiCroce, potentially expanding their indoor cultivation business into Shamong.

On December 3, 2020 Mayor DiCroce held a virtual meeting with Mr. Ryan Mao of Solar Therapeutics. Mayor DiCroce has frequently expressed his desire to attract established "world class" cannabis growers to Shamong. According to an article in Cannabis Business Times, Solar Therapeutics is a privately funded, for profit, company founded in 2019. As the name implies, the Somerset facility uses the energy provided by solar panels to provide both heat and light to the cannabis growing facility.

Mayor DiCroce will meet with representatives of Solar Therapeutics in the coming days

Read more about Solar Therapeutics here. https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News December 3, 2020 – Solar Therapeutics, a Somerset Massachusetts cannabis cultivator, looks to partner with Mayor DiCroce, potentially expanding their indoor cultivation business into Shamong.…

At tonight's Shamong Township meeting, Mayor DiCroce introduced Shamong resident and former NFL player Mr. Dominique Easley. Mr. Easley stated that he is already involved in the cannabis cultivation industry and has grown over 5000 plants in a collaborative in California. He is looking to bring that expertise to Shamong is support of the Mayor's cannabis initiative. Mr. Easley is a major advocate for cannabis cultivation and the related pharmaceutical products that can be derived from its processing. He stated that he has a great deal of experience in Cannabis' healing potential and also its potential use in transitioning from substance abuse. SCGA looks forward to working with Mr. Easley to make Shamong a leader in New Jersey's cannabis cultivation industry.

Mayor Dicroce is forging ahead with ambitions to bring Cannabis cultivation to Shamong. Today he met with former NFL patriots and Rams player, Dominique Easley, a resident of Shamong,
to discuss Mr. Easley's interest in h**p and cannabis growing in our town. In addition to Mr. Eastly, several other farm owners have also reached out to SCGA to express interest in growing cannabis. All cannabis related correspondence is relayed to the Mayor to keep him appraised of increasing interest in bringing this agricultural commodity to Shamong.

There is a brief article in the Shamong Sun that references the survey results posted by SCGA. The article correctly points out that 61% of respondents thought that cannabis cultivation would "mostly benefit" the township. However, an additional 17% thought the township would see a "slight benefit". So, in total, 78% of respondents thought there would be some overall benefit to the township.

With additional interest in SCGA spurred by articles in the Shamong Sun and PineBarrens Tribune, the web site is getting a lot of new traffic--and community feedback. New survey results which include up-to-date feedback will be posted Friday, November 20, 2020. If you haven't voiced your opinion yet, you have until 12pm to get your vote counted.
https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-survey/

Local Survey We want to know how you feel about the potential for the Cannabis industry to come to Shamong Township. Do you think it will bring the employment opportunities that the Mayor is touting? Will it br…

On November 18, 2020, Mayor DiCroce was interviewed by Brian Donohue of NJ News 12. In this interview he speaks to potential farmers in the area about the potential to grow cannabis. Click here to view the entire interview:

https://shamongcannabisgrowersassociation.home.blog/local-news/

Local News On November 18, 2020, Mayor DiCroce was interviewed by Brian Donohue of NJ News 12. In this interview he speaks to potential farmers in the area about the potential to grow cannabis. Mayor wants Sh…