Beyond Bleaf, a Black women-owned cannabis dispensary, recently opened at 753 Macopin Road in West Milford in Passaic County in North Jersey.
Co-founders Luciana Cotten, Latasha Lovick, and Tarsha Adeyemi stood proudly alongside Mayor Michele Dale, Council President David Marsden, Councilmen Michael Chazukow, and others at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The atmosphere was amplified with live music by Hot 97’s DJ Drewski and DJ K-Rock, food vendors, exclusive giveaways, and community love.
“We are truly overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the community,” said Cotten. “To see so many people… celebrating with us makes us proud to call West Milford our home.”
“This is the beginning of something beautiful,” declared Lovick. “We are open for business and ready to serve our community with high-quality products, education, and empowerment.”
“This grand opening is proof that when women, especially Black women, put their minds to something, there’s no stopping us,” shared Tarsha Adeyemi.
The Store Hours are: Monday-Saturday 10 am-8 pm and Sundays 11 am-5 pm.
Beyond Bleaf Background
The founders all come from professional backgrounds and personal experiences with cannabis. They have a shared vision to empower women and communities through Beyond Bleaf.
Beyond Bleaf is proudly Black woman-owned by three partners (Tarsha Adeyemi, Latasha Lovick, and Luciana Cotten.
“We are all corporate America-trained professionals who bring strong, transferable business skills. And a deep sense of purpose to this work,” Cotten explained.
Tarsha’s journey with cannabis began during her battle with Multiple Myeloma. She turned to it to manage the side effects of her cancer treatment and experienced the plant’s healing potential. For her, cannabis is personal. Sharing that message and helping others access the same relief became part of her purpose.
Latasha draws from her Jamaican heritage, where cannabis has long been embraced as a natural medicine, free from stigma. For her, cannabis was simply part of everyday wellness. Latasha is passionate about sharing that perspective to help de-stigmatize cannabis use and reintroduce it to our communities as a tool for healing, not judgment.
“For me, launching Beyond Bleaf was also about expanding the conversation around social equity. The War on Drugs disproportionately targeted Black and Brown men,” Cotten declared. “The women left behind were forced to carry the weight of families and neighborhoods in their absence.
“Even if they don’t meet the criteria for social equity licenses, their stories, struggles, and contributions matter just as much,” she argued.
“We launched Beyond Bleaf without large financial backing. Just our own savings, a lot of faith, and a belief in each other. This is a proven industry, and we bet on ourselves,” Cotten explained.
She noted they great valued its wellness properties as well as a path toward financial stability and generational wealth.
They enjoy a range of cannabis themselves.
“Right now, edibles are our preferred method of consumption, and Growfather’s chocolate peanut butter cup bar is a team favorite. We’re proud to be part of the evolving cannabis landscape and are excited to bring something meaningful to West Milford,” Cotten explained.
The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) awarded them a conditional license in December 2022, and the annual dispensary license needed to open legally last year in June 2024.
They are not the first dispensary to be in rural West Milford.
