SECAUCUS, NJ — Patch took an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour Monday morning of the state medical marijuana dispensary in Secaucus, which just received its long-awaited permit from the state today.

With their permit finally in hand, Harmony Foundation flung open their doors Monday morning, June 18. They've only been open a few hours and already seen a steady stream of customers throughout the day. Harmony is located at 600 Meadowlands Parkway, suite 15, inside an office complex. They have been trying to open for the past five years, but there were many delays in the approval process from the state. The Harmony Foundation is now the sixth, and final, medical marijuana dispensary in New Jersey. Other facilities are located in Montclair, Egg Harbor, Woodbridge, Cranbury and Bellmawr. However, as Gov. Phil Murphy significantly expanded access to medical marijuana in New Jersey, more dispensaries will soon be requesting permits from the state to open.

What's it like inside? The dispensary has an entryway and customers who walk in are first asked to show their medical marijuana card. There is a main room that resembles either a tea shop or an Apple store, with different varieties of marijuana displayed in glass jars. Customers can request their amount and pay at the counter.



Medical marijuana is not cheap: Prices at Harmony start at $60 for an eighth of an ounce and most purchases cost $100 or $200.

You must show a medical marijuana card to buy pot. The cards are given by the state of New Jersey. The Murphy administration has significantly loosened the requirements for who is approved for a card.

There is also a private consultation room where customers can consult with staff about different marijuana varieties that will suit their needs. Lounge music plays the entire time, and the dispensary feels like a low-key nightclub.

Harmony grows their own marijuana in large rooms in the back, but Patch was not allowed to tour the growing area. Video of where they grow the pot is below.

Medical marijuana customer Edward "Lefty" Grimes inside the Secaucus shop today. The varieties of cannabis for sale are displayed on the screen behind him. Medical marijuana advocates cheer the long-delayed opening, but said the pot is too expensive. "We're really happy this opened today; it's definitely progress," said customer Edward "Lefty" Grimes, 50, an East Hanover resident. He was inside Harmony today and happily spoke to Patch. "But it is expensive. We'd like to see the state allow us to grow marijuana in our own homes, so we don't have to pay this much. If you ask anyone in here, the medicine is overpriced, and we can't afford it. We need home grow."

