Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2012
Source: Press of Atlantic City, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2012 South Jersey Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/29
Author: Derek Harper

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP MAY HOST MEDICINAL MARIJUANA TREATMENT CENTER

Medicinal marijuana may be coming to Egg Harbor Township later this 
year, as a nonprofit group is planning to open one of the first 
treatment facilities in the state more than two years after the 
treatment was signed into law.

The proposed site would be in an 85,000-square-foot leased building 
in the Offshore Commercial Park, off Delilah Road, about a 
quarter-mile west of the Garden State Parkway.

Leo B. Schoffer, an attorney, long-time developer and philanthropist 
who sits on the Richard Stockton College board of trustees, owns the building.

Schoffer, 59, of Margate, said at an editorial board meeting at The 
Press of Atlantic City, "I really saw this as an opportunity to get 
involved in something, not just leasing space, but something that is 
going to provide a service that people need, and is going to help the 
quality of life of people, and I think that is something that real 
estate developers don't always get an opportunity to do."

Egg Harbor Township resident Paul Riportella was ecstatic. His wife, 
Diane Riportella, 55, testified in Trenton how marijuana helped ease 
her advanced symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known 
as Lou Gehrig's disease, even as the disease progressed.

"That's awesome. That's incredible. That's major," said Riportella, 42.

Similarly, state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, said the proposal was 
good news. Whelan co-sponsored the original legislation and said, "I 
think if we could get one (treatment facility) in our region, it 
would be a great convenience for people in this corner of New Jersey."

The proposal by the nonprofit Compassionate Care Foundation Inc. said 
the group would grow three grades of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis 
indoors in a mineral-rich nutrient solution under high-intensity 
growth lights. As many as 16,000 plants would be carefully monitored 
and controlled, with access limited to staff members who would have 
to undergo advance screenings before being hired, said Bill Thomas, 
the foundation president.

Thomas said the marijuana, developed at the University of 
Mississippi, would have reduced levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, the 
psychotropic chemical better known as THC.

The marijuana would be available as ground-up flakes, a lozenge or 
lotion to patients who pass the state's rigorous process, Thomas 
said. The form would be dependent on what the patient needed, Thomas 
said, but the foundation would generally recommend flakes and would 
provide nebulizers for the marijuana to be inhaled in a mist.

Thomas anticipated most of the customers would be cancer patients in 
their final stages of life.

The property would be strongly fenced in, Thomas said, with 
round-the-clock security and constant camera monitoring. Access to 
the property would be limited to people who have previous 
appointments, and people who loiter or turn up unannounced would be 
asked to leave.

"Our number one rule is there is no diversion of our product," Thomas said.

At the site Tuesday, building signs indicated it was now for rent 
after formerly serving as a warehouse and purchasing department for 
Trump Entertainment. It is across the street from Jomar Corp., which 
makes injection blow molding machines that make plastic bottles, and 
the rest of the business park is a mix of small warehouses and 
distribution centers. The area is near the intersection of the 
southbound Garden State Parkway and westbound Atlantic City Expressway.

While the surrounding area is largely commercial and industrial, 
several homes on Thrasher and Atlantic avenues are adjacent to the 
rear of the property.

Compassionate Care Foundation's proposal comes as supporters of the 
2010 medicinal marijuana law have had difficulties getting centers up 
and running. After an extended debate on regulations, the state 
issued licenses to six alternative treatment centers last April.

But centers have had difficulties with local planning authorities. 
Compassionate Care's Egg Harbor Township proposal came only after 
other local officials shut them out of sites in Bellmawr, Camden 
County, and Westampton, Burlington County, on zoning issues.

Only one center has gotten local backing, Greenleaf Compassion Center 
of Montclair, Essex County. Greenleaf filed mandatory paperwork 
seeking a state permit and disclosing employee backgrounds in 
mid-December, said Donna Leusner, the state Department of Health and 
Senior Services communications director. She said neither Greenleaf 
nor any other group has received final approval.

Egg Harbor Township Mayor James "Sonny" McCullough said township 
officials believe that Compassionate Care's center would be a 
permitted use under township zoning regulations.

The site is zoned as General Commercial, which permits, among other 
things "medical ... offices," pharmaceutical "research laboratories" 
and the "manufacturing/fabrication" of "pharmaceutical products," the 
township ordinance states.

McCullough said the location was relatively isolated and included 
stricter security measures in place than most pharmacies. Of 
medicinal marijuana, McCullough said, "There's an obvious need for it 
or the medical profession would not recognize it."
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