Another Marijuana Store Arrives in Gloucester City

 

William E. Cleary Sr. 

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (July 8, 2026)(CNBNews) — Motorists traveling along Broadway have likely noticed the new marquee sign at the former Select Pizza building at South Broadway and George Street. The sign reads “Dispensary,” marking the site of Gloucester City’s next marijuana retail store.

Residents living near the old pizza shop 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.”

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

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.

BlueLight Cannabis Dispensary, 401 North Broadway, Gloucester City. (CNBNews photo)

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.

Here is the list of cannabis retailers currently operating in Gloucester Township (from oldest to newest):

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