Another Marijuana Store Arrives in Gloucester City

This will be the second cannabis dispensary to open in Gloucester City. The first, BluLight, operates out of the former O’Donnell’s Bar and Restaurant at 401 North Broadway.

Residents living near the former Pat’s Select Pizza say they’ve complained for months about the tall weeds surrounding the property, calling it an eyesore. Behind the building sits a pile of trash. One neighbor told CNBNews, “Hopefully, now the property will be maintained.”

In 2020, New Jersey voters approved a statewide referendum legalizing adult‑use cannabis. Of the state’s 564 municipalities, 211 allow some form of licensed cannabis business, and more than 160 specifically permit recreational retail sales. Local zoning rules vary widely, meaning not all “opt‑in” towns allow every type of cannabis license, according to reporting by The Patch.

BluLight Dispensary

New Jersey’s legal marijuana industry now includes more than 300 dispensaries statewide, but because many towns banned retail sales, these businesses are clustered in municipalities that embraced the new market.

Gloucester Township: A Case Study in Cannabis Revenue

Gloucester Township, which has five dispensaries, has publicly touted the financial benefits. Under state law, 2% of each cannabis sale goes directly to local taxes.

Township Council President Orlando Mercado reported that cannabis retailers generated $38,960.60 in local sales‑tax revenue in 2024. That figure jumped to $232,753 in 2025, he said during a council meeting. Gloucester Township began permitting licensed recreational dispensaries in 2021, one year after the statewide referendum. The first shops opened in the summer of 2023.

The following cannabis retailers are currently operating (from oldest to newest:

MPX NJ: opened summer 2023 at 581 Berlin-Cross Keys Rd., Sicklerville
HoneyGrove: opened summer 2023 at 1337 Blackwood-Clementon Rd., Clementon
Flower & Flame: opened March 2024 at 601 College Dr., Blackwood
Blackwood Wellness: opened last September at 816 N Black Horse Pike, Blackwood
Quality Cannabliss: opened last month at 1610 N Black Horse Pike, Blackwood

A sixth dispensary, Unity Rd., was approved by local officials two years ago, but it hasn’t been built. It will be located at 2751 Sicklerville Rd.

NJDOC Awards 2026 NJLEAD Grants To 41 Organizations

The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) has awarded nearly $7 million through the 2026 New Jersey Locally Empowered, Accountable, and Determined (NJLEAD) grants to 41 community organizations across the state. These investments expand community access to critical resources that promote long-term stability and opportunity for returning citizens.

“Successful reentry strengthens public safety and creates stronger communities,” said Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn, Esq. “These investments support local organizations that help individuals secure housing, find employment, access treatment and build stable lives after release. Their work is an important part of New Jersey’s continued progress in reducing recidivism.”

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NJ Sierra Club Applauds Gov. Sherrill

On a kitchen table in Salem County, Governor Sherrill signed three energy affordability bills. Among the bills was the nation-leading Data Center Tariff Bill, S731 (Burzichelli)/A796 (Bailey), which is critical to ensuring big tech pays their fair share.

This bill will require electric utilities to develop and apply special tariffs for large-load data centers to protect ratepayers from bearing the cost burden due to their large energy consumption and potential infrastructure upgrades.

Governor Sherrill also signed the RTO Adder Bill, S1673 (Zwicker)/A2757 (Katz), which ends the payment of millions of taxpayer dollars that NJ electric utilities have been receiving for being a part of our Regional Transmission Operator, PJM.

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Upcoming Concert at New Brooklyn Park!

The Camden County Summer Park Concert series brought to you by the Camden County Commissioners continues on July 15th at New Brooklyn Park!

Bill to Protect Ratepayers from Data Center Energy Costs Signed

Assemblyman Dave Bailey, Jr.’s legislation designed to ensure that public utility customers are not burdened with subsidizing the energy costs of large data centers was signed into law on Tuesday. Governor Sherrill signed the bill at Assemblyman Bailey’s childhood home in Salem County, where his mother, Eileen, still resides. Assembly members Joe Danielsen, Clinton Calabrese and Eliana Pintor Marin also sponsored Bill A796.

“Data center growth will drive up the cost of electricity if we don’t create guardrails,” said Assemblyman Bailey (D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland). “We want to make sure data centers pay for the energy they use and the infrastructure they need, not our constituents. This bill is about protecting ratepayers and preventing households and small businesses from paying for data centers to connect to the grid.”

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HOME COUNTRY: Swears on his coffee it happened…

Steve, the cowboy on the board of directors of the Mule Barn truck stop’s philosophy counter and world dilemma think tank, swears on his coffee it happened.

“Tourist guy got off the train the other day when I was down there picking up a friend,” Steve said. “He asked me if I was a real cowboy, and I allowed I probably was, because I wasn’t smart enough to get a real job. So he asked if I minded if he asked me some questions.”

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New Jersey Chooses Litigation Over Election Integrity

The Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) today expressed deep disappointment following New Jersey’s enactment of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, legislation that moves the state in a markedly different direction from the commonsense election integrity reforms advancing in Congress through the SAVE America Act.

“The SAVE America Act focuses on preventing problems before they occur through objective verification. This law focuses on resolving disputes afterward through litigation,” Cuccinelli said. “Prevention builds confidence. Litigation erodes it.”

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Moorestown Native Marie McCool Named MVP of Women’s Lacrosse League All-Star Game

Moorestown native Marie McCool, one of 20 players and coaches in the Women’s Lacrosse League with Philadelphia-area ties, was named MVP of the Lexus WLL All-Star Game on Sunday in Annapolis after scoring the game-winning goal in a matchup featuring many of the world’s best players.

McCool will return to action with the California Palms on Aug. 8, when the team looks to secure a win in its final regular-season game and clinch a spot in the inaugural WLL Championship, which will take place at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., on Saturday, Aug. 15.

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Police Release Photos of Suspect Vehicle Sought in Fatal Kelly Drive Hit-and-Run Investigation

The Philadelphia Police Department’s Crash Investigation Division is releasing photographs of the suspect vehicle believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of 20-year-old Bryce Wolfe.

The crash occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Reservoir Drive.

The preliminary investigation determined that a white SUV was traveling eastbound on Kelly Drive and attempted to make an illegal turn onto Reservoir Drive. As the SUV attempted to return to the eastbound travel lane after realizing the turn could not be completed, it entered the path of a westbound red 2004 Triumph motorcycle.