Medical marijuana remains a controversial topic — and treatment — in New Jersey, but the number of physicians and patients registered with the state program appears to be slowly growing: As of last year, 364 Garden State doctors had signed on to recommend patients to the program. And 3,400 patients had registered.

Most likely, they’ll still be traveling a fair distance to fill their prescriptions: The fifth dispensary to receive a permit to grow and sell cannabis, Compassionate Sciences, Inc., has built a dispensary and indoor grow center in Bellmawr.

It joins Breakwater Alternative Treatment Center (Cranbury);
Garden State Dispensary (Woodbridge); Greenleaf Compassion Center (Montclair); and the Compassionate Care Foundation (Egg Harbor).