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The number of women-led cannabis ventures in New Jersey continues to expand.
After officially opening its doors Dec. 4, Pure Blossom – a recreational dispensary located at 2554 Pennington Road in Pennington – offers a range of cannabis products cultivated and created all over the state, as well as smoking accessories.
The shop also sells sustainable beauty lifestyle and holistic wellbeing products, as well as its Pure Blossom Goods custom lifestyle goods line, which launched with a collection of soft, heavyweight leisurewear for the winter.
Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, Pure Blossom aims to be a “new kind of dispensary” that blends the warmth of a wellness sanctuary with the refinement of a luxury boutique.
In addition to its commitment to providing an unparalleled retail experience, Pure Blossom hopes to help destigmatize cannabis through enlightening education sessions with staff, workshops with leading-edge cannabis brands, and collaborative activations with businesses and organizations in Central Jersey.
Pure Blossom’s chief operating officer, Jordan Bruseloff, said, “Our vision extends beyond the traditional dispensary model. We think we’ll impress even the pickiest of legacy cannabis consumers, but I also hope to see stressed out moms. I hope to see older people who might not have considered cannabis before. We want to be an alternative for anybody who’s seeking wellness that always thought about trying cannabis but weren’t sure because of a fear of the unknown.”
In Plainfield, Royal M – a women-and-minority-owned cannabis retailer – will be open seven days a week from 1 to 6 p.m. following its Dec. 18 soft launch.
Located at 102A E. Front St., the new shop offers top-shelf flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers and concentrates for everyone from first-time users to seasoned cannabis connoisseurs.
Co-owned by Ananya Mukerjee, and her husband, Dr. Ken Vaid, Royal M is the first dispensary to debut downtown and the second cannabis shop in Plainfield, following Queen City’s September grand opening.
The couple’s journey in cannabis began when they witnessed through relatives and friends the benefits of using cannabis therapy to enhance overall health, whether it was dealing with cancer, managing pain, handling stress, recuperating from surgery or recreationally.
From there, they had a founding role in the New England Cannabis Corp. as primary investors and Vaid as chief medical officer. After many years of learning about the highly regulated market’s intricacies, the couple decided to start their own family-owned and operated dispensary in their home state of New Jersey.
“Our mission is a hopeful one, aimed at dismantling outdated stigmas and forging a united path forward,” the founders said. “Through our education and understanding, we will introduce you to the amazing benefits of this plant. Whether you are experiencing pain, anxiety, or just want to relax and get a good night’s sleep, let our dispensary experts guide you to the wonderful and life-changing benefits of cannabis.”
Mukerjee told NJBIZ, “Being a women-owned business, it was very important for me to bring my unique culmination of life experiences into this cannabis venture with Royal M, which is deeply rooted in a passion for enhancing people’s health. Reflecting on this journey in advance of our opening allows me to ponder the transformative benefits of cannabis therapy, which have been evident in the challenges faced by our close circles.
“This reflection is an opportunity to share our excitement for the road ahead—a warm, family-owned, and operated dispensary in the heart of Downtown Plainfield, contributing to the thriving business landscape while offering curated products and unparalleled customer service to those seeking the healing powers of cannabis. Whether it be for a change in perspective, enhanced sensory experiences, spiritual connectedness, personal enjoyment, or medicinal purposes, cannabis access should always be safe and barrier-free,” she added.
Royal M expects to roll out expanded store hours shortly after the start of the new year in advance of its official Jan. 23, 2024, opening.
Though cannabis remains a male-dominated industry across the U.S., female entrepreneurs in the Garden State are making progress in breaking the so-called grass ceiling.
As part of a bid to establish a legalized marketplace that is fair and equitable, the state’s cannabis law dictates that 30% of licenses go to minorities, women and disabled veterans.
Earlier this year, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission reported earlier that about 400 of the more than 1,600 applications it has received for cannabis business licenses were from women-owned ventures.
Of the 50+ new dispensaries that opened in New Jersey this year, about half are either founded, owned or run by women.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 7:37 p.m. ET Dec. 13, 2023, to include a statement from Royal M co-owner Ananya Mukerjee.