Greenleaf Compassion Center, the state's first medical marijuana dispensary.

(Photo by Photo by Robert Sciarrino / the Star-Ledger)

MONTCLAIR — New Jersey's first medical marijuana dispensary opened this morning.

Greenleaf Compassion Center at 395 Bloomfield Avenue, in the heart of Montclair's commercial district, admitted its first patient at 10 a.m. All initial visits to Greenleaf will be done by appointment only, board member and co-founder Joe Stevens said.

About 20 registered patients from across the state were scheduled to meet with the dispensary staff to discuss their medical history and decide which of the dispensary's three strains of marijuana would work best. Patients will be limited to purchase a half-ounce of pot at their initial consultation, in order to insure the limited supply reaches all patients, Stevens said.

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Dan Babij, a state health department employee assigned to the medical marijuana program, said he had been inside monitoring Greenleaf's activities. By about noon, he estimated five patients had been seen. "So far, so good — no complaints," he said directing further questions to the health department.

Eventually six dispensaries, or alternative treatment centers, will serve registered patients, but Greenleaf is the first to complete the application and permitting process and secure approvals from local officials.

Three doors down from Greenleaf, Ashkan Klalaj, owner of Kei Kabob, a Persian restaurant, watched as TV trucks and reporters gathered outside the dispensary.

Khalaj and his assistant, Ricardo Henry said they had no problems philosophically with the dispensary's arrival.

"Maybe it will be good for business," Henry said.

"We're wondering how it's going to be with individual people" who are not patients," Khalaj said. "We don't want to see any problems."

Henry said Montclair's business district always has a heavy police presence. "They do a beautiful job. So if people who just want to get high come around, it won't be a good idea," he said.

The first patient emerged from the dispensary's blacked-out doors at 10:20 am. He asked reporters to leave him alone, as he walked up Bloomfield Avenue.

Just before opening, two private security officers stood outside the front door. One side of the storefront was cordoned off; reporters were asked to stand behind it.

Another patient emerged at 10:30 am who held up a folder to block his face and rushed passed reporters.

At 10:45 a.m., Joe Stevens and Julio Valentin, Greenleaf's co-founders and board members, emerged in white coats to accept a houseplant with a large red bow delivered to the shop.

"It's going great," said Valentin, a former police officer and restauranteur. They walked a patient inside and declined to comment. The patient also declined to speak.

The dispensary drew a handful of self-professed marijuana smokers interested in the program, including two men from Newark who smoked a joint as they walked up Bloomfield Avenue.

"I am here to get more information," said Pete Gonzalez, 32, who is not a registered patient.

His friend who identified himself as Angel, 28, said he did not fear arrest as he inhaled the marijuana he obtained illegally. "Why should I?"

Neither man was let inside.

Medical marijuana center opens in NJ 7 Gallery: Medical marijuana center opens in NJ

A tall husky man in a knit cap and sunglasses stopped to talk to reporters briefly before he entered the dispensary.

"I think it's amazing," he said, describing his feelings about being able to buy marijuana to help curb his constant pain. He declined to give his name or where he lived. "I hope it helps a lot of people."

Ed, a 52-year-old man who uses a cane, emerged at about 11:45 a.m., describing the experience as "very professional."

He said he's endured 19 operations after getting electrocuted at work nine years ago when he worked for an electric company. His pain is constant.

"I hope this opens the doors for everybody" in need, Ed said, declining to give his full name. He recognize some people don't believe in marijuana pain-minimizing properties. "Everybody had his own opinion. It's America."

At 1:20 pm, Greenleaf's board members and founders Julio Valentin and Joe Stevens addressed the media waiting outside since 9 a.m.

"It's going better than we had expected," said Stevens, describing patients as "relieved" and "excited."

Patients must show their state-issued medical marijuana card and another form of state ID to the security guard standing outside in order to get inside the shop, Valentin said.

"They are stopped again by the receptionist," before they are taken into a back office to discuss their illnesses and make a purchase.

Patients receive the smokable form of the drug in a sealable bag that is transparent in the front and black in the back. Each bag is barcoded to keep track of inventory and sales, Stevens said.

He also declined to reveal what he paid for his supply.

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