NJ’s 1st Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens

The first medical marijuana patients in New Jersey are set to get state-sanctioned pot for the first time.

Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair is set to open Thursday, becoming the state's first legal dispensary.

It's taken nearly three years to get to this point since the law went on the books legalizing cannabis for patients with certain conditions in New Jersey. Patients say it relieves pain and nausea associated with glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions.

More than 330 patients have registered so far. But only 20 of them are to be allowed into the shop per day at first. And they can get their medicine only by appointment.

State Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd says her department will monitor the process.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.