Herbalicity Dispensary held its Grand Opening for adult-use cannabis sales in Highland Park in Middlesex County in Central Jersey.
They recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Highland Park Councilman Matt Hale to mark the happy occasion.
Like other dispensaries, Herbalicity initially had a soft opening earlier to iron out issues before many customers were there.
It’s an interesting place. It is more colorful than many of the larger dispensaries. They also have a lot of smoking products for sale, like a smoke shop. Herbalicity had a large range of pipes for sale at reasonable prices.
Unlike most dispensaries, they do not have a full wall between the entrance and the shop floor.
It’s a colorful place with a mural designed by an artist named Zanara Dean of Somerset County, who posed with Councilman Hale.
They also have a ramp in the entry, which has been an issue for some. In fact, someone in a wheelchair came in shortly after the ribbon cutting.
As part of the Grand opening festivities, they also offered pizza, falafel, and pastries to customers.
NJ Cannabis Products Diversifying Slowly
As part of the Grand Opening, there was a pop-up by the large corporate MSO TerrAscend under their Kind Tree brand. They had a wheel to spin for prizes and stickers. The large MSO MPX/iAnthus also set up a table with free stuff and explained their products.
Along with the larger traditional brands, Herbalicity has cannabis flower for sale from newer places like Hamilton Farms, vapes from the small MSO Fernway, and the super white labeled Gron gummies.
In addition, they have a newer brand called Superflux, which made a deal with the large MSO Acreage, which owns the Botanist dispensaries. They make live resin and cured concentrates.
Herbalicity wants to do delivery soon. They also have plans to manufacture their own line of products.
Unique Business
Attorney Sam Redlich has founded Venture Garden as a network of independent license holders that is designed to function like a co-operative or co-op. Many of them are Social Equity applicants harmed by the War on Drugs and minorities. For example, NJWeedman’s legal dispensary in Trenton is in the network along with that of his former partner Debi Madaio’s upcoming Weed Stalk dispensary in Franklin Township, among others.
Redlich said he favors homegrown cannabis legalization, which remains a felony, and supports patients.
“The clouds are parting. The sun is shining, and dispensaries are opening,” Venture Garden Manager Terry Davison said.
He helped create the brand as part of the Venture Garden Network. Davison is from Central Jersey and has worked for cannabis companies.
They were among the many who first won a conditional license in October 2022.
Competition in Highland Park
Highland Park is a vibrant, progressive place with a large Jewish community that allows a few dispensaries within its boundaries.
Thus, fierce competition is coming for Anja Life dispensary, which opened on the other side of town from Herbalicity. Three other dispensaries have secured approval to open from the Highland Park town council.
In fact, a place called Main Street dispensary is very close to Herbalicity.
However, each town in Central Jersey has a different view of cannabis dispensaries. So, while neighboring New Brunswick has two dispensaries close to each other on George Street with Puffin and Earth & Ivy, there are no plans to allow any dispensaries in East Brunswick. In addition, the cannabis licensing process has stalled greatly in Edison amidst opposition.
So, New Jersey has become a place where you can go from cannabis deserts with no legal dispensaries to clusters of dispensaries in an oasis. Often, the owners in the clusters in a knife fight to sustain a business they have poured their heart, soul, and money into are similar, fairly ethical small businesspeople.
(Full disclosure this is an advertorial ad purchased as part of a deal between Heady NJ and Herbalicity.)
