A southern New Jersey group has been issued a state permit to begin growing medical marijuana.
Compassionate Care Foundation hopes to open a dispensary by September in Egg Harbor Township.
It would be the state's second medical marijuana dispensary. The first one, Greenleaf Compassion Center, opened in December in the northern New Jersey community of Montclair.
Once growing permits are issued, it takes about three to four months to cultivate and prepare the drug for distribution. A second permit will be needed before Compassionate Care can open.
State health officials said Thursday about 1,000 patients are now registered to receive medical marijuana treatment.
New Jersey legalized medical marijuana in 2010.
