New Jersey's Health Department says it's issuing its first license to allow a medical marijuana dispensary to open.

Oficials announced Monday that Greenleaf Compassion Care Center in Montclair has cleared all the hurdles to open.

Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd says she expects the dispensary will not be able to open immediately. But she says the center can begin scheduling appointments with qualified patients.

Five other centers have been picked by the state and are in planning stages.