80 marijuana vending machines confiscated by cops
The owner of Barbwire Vending Machines is being charged with drug possession and distribution
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A Toms River man has been busted for selling marijuana out of vending machines. Police say that Ben Gross was earning nearly $20,000 a day on the machines but he wasn’t licensed to sell legal weed.
Ben Gross is the owner of Barbwire Vending Machines. He has been arrested, and 80 of his machines have been seized from a number of convenience stores in Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Point Pleasant and other areas of Monmouth and Ocean County.
The machines allowed people to buy marijuana by scanning an ID and credit card.
News 12 spoke with a man in Asbury Park who tried the vending machine marijuana. Dorien Shaw says the machines were popular because the product was often less expensive than what is being sold by dispensaries.
“I mean, it was like I’m going to say mediocre. They had the pre-rolls for like $10. It was definitely cheaper, but I’d go to the Zen Leaf to get better quality," said Shaw.
As for Gross, his warehouse in Manchester, used for packaging, was raided by police where they seized more than 100 pounds of flower marijuana and THC-infused candy.
Gross appeared before a judge and was released until his next hearing.
However, the Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer weighed in, saying in a statement, “While marijuana possession is legal for adults under certain circumstances in New Jersey, it is still illegal to sell marijuana without proper licensure.”
Ben Gross appeared before a judge in Ocean County on charges of drug possession and distribution. He was released until his next court hearing.
