N.J. issues first permit for legal pot growing

(AP) TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey has issued its first permit for a nonprofit group to grow medical marijuana legally.

The state Department of Health announced the permit for Montclair-based Greenleaf Compassion Center on Monday.

A second permit would need to be granted before the center can begin selling pot to patients. A crop is expected to take three to four months to grow, and the state says a permit to sell would come as the first crop is ready.

Greenleaf is one of six centers chosen last year by the state to grow and sell cannabis. But it's one of just two that have announced locations with local approvals.

The Montclair group says it has a cultivation site but has not disclosed where it is.