Jersey Meds Opens the 100th NJ Adult-use Only Cannabis Dispensary | Heady NJ (2024)

Jersey Meds in Pennington is the 100th New Jersey adult-use cannabis dispensary Heady NJ has reported open for business.

“We now have more than 100 adult-use cannabis businesses operational. Setting up this new industry… is a process. One that shouldn’t be rushed,” NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) Chair Dianna Houenou recently noted.

New Jersey’s Independent Cannabis Dispensaries

There definitely has been progress that can be celebrated.

Among the new independent dispensaries, there are many owned by locals, women, Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, and underground legacy to legal operators. Those who have crossed the finish line are successful serial entrepreneurs with at least one profitable business open.

A lack of the huge amount of money needed, the intenesly political town process, and affordable real estate have served as massive barriers to entry for hundreds of companies.

In addition, some are majority locally owned and have a former corporate Multi-State Operators (MSO) executive working there in some capacity. A few are indeed smaller MSOs compared to the large MSOs hated by many longtime consumers and underground legacy operators. Sometimes they are minority, women or underground legacy to legal owned.

Due to the influence of former Governor Chris Christie (R), the New Jersey medical cannabis market has been dominated by large MSOs that charge too much for mediocre cannabis for years.

Many consumers advocated have complained the independent dispensaries mostly carry the products of the large MSOs and a few white-labeled companies that made deals with them. But some independent cultivators like Hamilton Farms have gotten to market. Many local independent cultivators and manufacturers should be in the market by July. That number will also include more small MSOs.

The first 100 dispensaries to open included medical cannabis only dispensaries. The next list that will be interesting is the first 100 independent adult-use cannabis dispensaries to open since about a third are owned by an MSO.

Jersey Meds Dispensary Opens in Pennington

The micro dispensary Jersey Meds held a soft opening in Pennington Mercer County on March 8^th, which is International Women’s Day. They held their Grand Opening with a celebration more recently.

“We had a great crowd and vendors of 9 pop-ups. The whole industry was here,” said Pennington resident and Jersey Meds owner Dolly Lalchandani.

She noted they have products from Fernway, Loud Labs, and Bango available.

Lalchandani praised her budtender clerks as passionate about the industry. They give recommendations of things they’ve tried. She noted they ask how consumers want to feel versus others where they just ask if you want Sativa, Indica or hybrid strains.

“We give proper time and attention,” she declared.

Lalchandani said the store’s vibe is Californian. She noted they wanted to emphasize their local roots and the medicinal properties of the plants in the name, even if they sell adult-use cannabis exclusively. Notably, of their 40 parking spots, 5 are dedicated to medical cannabis patients.

Even if it’s sold as “recreational,” cannabis still has medicinal value.

Locals Win Tough Pennington Approval Fight

“We are the sole and only one licensed in this industry in Pennington. It was not easy to get this license. It was a fierce competition,” Lalchandani said about securing approval. “That’s the only license they gave. We were competing against the MSOs from Massachusetts.”

Along with her business ownership, she is also a social worker and has given to many charitable organizations in the community organizing food pantry drives as well as the Hopewell Valley YMCA.

“That’s why the town likes me,” Lalchandani joked. “Everyone knows we’re hard working, family owned. Once you take of your team… business will follow. Also, we truly believe we have to take care of the team and the town.”

“We didn’t have any political ties,” she added. “We had great lawyers.”

Lalchandani noted she liked Heady NJ’s coverage of the shady and very political cannabis licensing process in nearby Hopewell.

“That was unbelievable,” she said about the process.

After winning the license they had a mural painted on a wall in the dispensary dedicated to local Pennington history.

Ownership Background

Lalchandani came to the United States in 1993 from India with a dream of being an entrepreneur and opened a liquor store first. She is partners with her brother and cousin. The NJCRC letter sent to Lalchandani awarding her the conditional license. They got their annual license needed to open in October 2023.

“If we do anything, we’ll grow and keep it together and keep it in the family,” she noted.

Lalchandani has lived in Pennington for 17 years. She owns a few gas stations, a smoke shop, and a CBD store.

“We are self-funded. We didn’t get any loans,” Lalchandani explained.

Another Jersey Meds partner is holistic medical doctor Dr. Prathiba Rao of Bordentown in Burlington County.

“Cannabinoids were really good for the patients… and heal a lot of ailments,” she said.

Rao liked that the medical cannabis patients she helped were getting off opioids and other drugs that have many negative side effects.

100 Recreational New Jersey Cannabis Dispensaries Open

The following list is an approximate reflection of who opened when and partially alphabetically.

1. Ascend395 BLOOMFIELD AVE MONTCLAIR Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
2. Ascend174 ROUTE 17 NORTH ROCHELLE PARK -Rochelle-Park Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
3. Ascend461-469 WEST STATE STREET FORT LEE Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
4. Ayr Wellness (formerly Garden State Dispensary)950 US 1 NORTH WOODBRIDGEMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
5. Ayr Wellness59 MAIN ST EATONTOWNMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
6. Ayr Wellness2536 RT 22 UNION Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
7. Apothecarium Dispensary55 SOUTH MAIN ST. PHILLIPSBURGMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
8. ApothecariumDispensary 1865 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE MAPLEWOODMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
9. ApothecariumDispensary200 NJ-17 LODIMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
10. BLOC1075 EASTON AVE SOMERSETMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
11. BLOC501 US-9 WARETOWN Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
12. BLOC1761 NORTH OLDEN AVENUE EWINGMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
13. The Botanist100 CENTURY DRIVE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
14. The Botanist2090 N BLACKHORSE PIKE WILLIAMSTOWNMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
15. RISE196 3RD AVENUE #3-C PATERSONMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
16. RISE26-48 BLOOMFIELD AVE BLOOMFIELDMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
17. The Cannabist1062 NORTH DELSEA DRIVE VINELANDMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
18. The Cannabist1692 CLEMENTS BRIDGE RD DEPTFORDMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
19. Curaleaf191 RTE 130 BORDENTOWN Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
20. Curaleaf640 CREEK ROAD BELLMAWRMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
21. Curaleaf4237 US-130 South EDGEWATER PARK Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
22. Zen Leaf117 SPRING STREET ELIZABETHMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
23. Zen Leaf3256 BRUNSWICK PIKE LAWRENCE TWP.Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
24. Zen Leaf2100 ROUTE 66 NEPTUNE Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
25. MPX NJ153 S. NEW YORK AVENUE ATLANTIC CITY Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
26. MPX NJ5035 CENTRAL HWY PENNSAUKEN / Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
27. MPXNJ 581 BERLIN-CROSS KEYS ROAD SICKLERVILLEMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
28. Valley Wellness407 US-202 RARITAN Medicinal and Recreational.
29. Aunt Mary’s Dispensary100 REAVILLE AVE. SUITE 211 FLEMINGTON Medicinal and Recreational.
30. NJ Leaf546 PARK AVENUE FREEHOLD Medicinal and Recreational.
31. downtown FLWR141 NEWARK AVENUE JERSEY CITY Medicinal and Recreational.
32. RIPT220 BROADWAY JERSEY CITY Medicinal and Recreational.
33. Daylite Cannabis1136 ROUTE 73 MOUNT LAUREL / Recreational cannabis only.
34. Design 710112 PARK PLACE ATLANTIC CITYMedicinal and Recreational.
35. Eastern Green78 ROUTE 73 VOORHEES / Medicinal and Recreational.
36. Brute’s Roots6206 BLACK HORSE PIKE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIPMedicinal and Recreational.
37. Garden State Botanicals1345 US-1 NORTH BRUNSWICK Medicinal and Recreational.
38. Garfield Gardens Dispensary(formerly Yuma Way) 517 RIVER DRIVE GARFIELD Medicinal and Recreational MSO
39. URB’NDispensary 378 SOUTH ST NEWARK Medicinal and Recreational.
40. Holistic SolutionsLLC 451 WHITE HORSE PIKE ATCO Medicinal and Recreational.
41. HoneyGrove1337 BLACKWOOD-CLEMENTON ROAD GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIPMedicinal and Recreational.
42. Sweet Spot903 WHITE HORSE ROAD, SUITE 2 VOORHEESMedicinal and Recreational MSO.
43. Earth & Ivy355 GEORGE STREET NEW BRUNSWICK Recreational cannabis only.
44. Nova Farms642 MANTUA AVENUE WOODBURY Recreational cannabis only MSO.
45. Social Leaf, The 334 ATLANTIC CITY BOULEVARD SOUTH TOMS RIVER Recreational cannabis only.
46. Union Chill204 N UNION ST, #108 LAMBERTVILLE Recreational cannabis only.
47. Cookies Harrison331 ANGELO CIFELLI DRIVE HARRISON Recreational cannabis only MSO.
48. Leaf Haus900 EASTON AVENUE, SUITE 18 SOMERSET Recreational cannabis only.
49. New Era Dispensary80-88 MAIN STREET SOUTH BOUND BROOK / Recreational cannabis only.
50. Puffin Store382 GEORGE STREET NEW BRUNSWICK Recreational cannabis only.
51. Queen City Remedies1353 SOUTH AVE PLAINFIELD Recreational cannabis only.
52. Molly Ann Farms256 BELMONT AVENUE HALEDON / Recreational cannabis only.
53. A21 Wellness2507 US HIGHWAY 22 SCOTCH PLAINS Recreational cannabis only.
54. Elevated by TheCannaBossLady9 HIGHLAND PLACE MAPLEWOOD Recreational cannabis only.
55. Garden Greenz190 NEWARK AVENUE JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only.
56. The Cannabis Place1544 JOHN F. KENNEDY BOULEVARD JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only MSO.
57. Baked by the River8 CHURCH STREET LAMBERTVILLE Recreational cannabis only.
58. Camden Apothecary1205 HADDON AVENUE CAMDENRecreational cannabis only.
59. 1634 Funk394 COMMUNIPAW AVENUE JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only.
60. Cloud Nine Dispensary513-27 ROUTE 22 NORTH PLAINFIELD Recreational cannabis only.
61. Anja225 WOODBRIDGE AVENUE HIGHLAND PARK Recreational cannabis only.
62. Mountain View Farmacy74 OAK RIDGE ROAD WEST MILFORD Recreational cannabis only.
63. Indigo302 CRESCENT BOULEVARD BROOKLAWN Recreational cannabis only.
64. Organic Farms2895 MOUNT EPHRAIM AVENUE CAMDEN Recreational cannabis only.
65. Unity Rd. Cannabis Shop441 ELIZABETH AVE SOMERSET Recreational cannabis only MSO.
66. Evolve Cannabis186 US-130 BORDENTOWN Recreational cannabis only.
67. Kind Kush279 US-46 ROCKAWAY Recreational cannabis only.
68. Elevated Herb1846 ROUTE 23 WEST MILFORD Recreational cannabis only.
69. High Street Dispensary811 HIGH STREET HACKETTSTOWN Recreational cannabis only.
70. Highway 9090 OLD MARLTON PIKE WEST EVESHAM Recreational cannabis only.
71. Med Leaf201 PHILADELPHIA AVENUE EGG HARBOR CITY Recreational cannabis only.
72. Noire Dispensary171 MAPLEWOOD AVE MAPLEWOOD Recreational cannabis only.
73. Phasal1100 N BLACK HORSE PIKE RUNNEMEDE Recreational cannabis only MSO.
74. Phula60-62 HIGH STREET MOUNT HOLLY Recreational cannabis only.
75. Nightjar549 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD Recreational cannabis only.
76. Hackettstown Dispensary321 MOUNTAIN AVENUE HACKETTSTOWN Recreational cannabis only.
77. Hello High7685 BLACK HORSE PIKE HAMMONTON Recreational cannabis only.
78. Royal M102A E FRONT ST PLAINFIELD Recreational cannabis only.
79. Shore HouseCanna 124 SUNSET BLVD WEST CAPE MAY Recreational cannabis only.
80. Hashery409 NJ-17 HACKENSACK Recreational cannabis only.
81. Soulflora2713 NJ ROUTE 23, SUITE 5A NEWFOUNDLAND Recreational cannabis only.
82. Terrapin Investment Fund “The Station” 86 RIVER ST. HOBOKEN Medicinal and Recreational MSO.
83. Fire and Oak5 WASHINGTON STREET MOUNT HOLLY Recreational cannabis only.
84. Joy Leaf711 EAST 1ST AVENUE ROSELLERecreational cannabis only.
85. TheLeaf Joint391 CENTRAL AVE, GROUND FLOOR JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only.
86. VoltaireNJ 47 MILL STREET MOUNT HOLLY Recreational cannabis only.
87. Dank Poet Dispensary245 E WASHINGTON AVE WASHINGTON Recreational cannabis only.
88. Cannabis Clubhouse70-72 E MAIN STREET SUSSEX Recreational cannabis only.
89. Blue Oak Dispensary1025 Broad St, BLOOMFIELD, NJ 07003 Recreational cannabis only.
90. Plantabis2077 US-1, Rahway, NJ 07065 Recreational cannabis only
91. High ProfileLAKEHURST Recreational cannabis only 145 NJ-70, Lakehurst, NJ 08733 MSO.
92. Township Green15 Scott St Riverside NJ Recreational cannabis only.
93. Golden Door Dispensary638 Newkirk Jersey City Recreational cannabis only.
94. Pure Blossom 2554 PENNINGTON ROAD Hopewell Recreational cannabis only.
95. Jersey RootsWest Milford Recreational cannabis only.
96. Natural Apothecary27 Washington Ave Belleville Recreational cannabis only.
97. Gynsyng Dispensary14 S Center St Merchantville Recreational cannabis only.
98. OHM TheoryElmwood Park Recreational cannabis only.
99. Lemon 22in Scotch Plains Recreational cannabis only.
100. Jersey Meds in Pennington Recreational cannabis only.