NJCBA President Launches Township Green in Riverside, Golden Door Dispensary Opens in Jersey City

NJ CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) President Scott Rudder opened Township Green Dispensary in Riverside and Golden Door opened in Jersey City recently.

Both are veteran-owned. They are the 94th and 95th adult-use New Jersey cannabis dispensaries to open by Heady NJ’s count.

NJCBA President Scott Rudder Opens Township Green in Riverside

Township Green dispensary held its grand opening Monday in downtown Riverside in Burlington County in South Jersey.

State Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) and Riverside Mayor Corey Kimble were there to cut the ribbon with Township Green owner and NJCBA President Scott Rudder on the opening day.

(Full disclosure Rudder is a Heady NJ Patreon supporter.)

“We want Township Green to serve as an example of how to create a sense of community within the cannabis industry,” Rudder declared. “For us, it’s not just about providing a great product. We want Riverside and surrounding towns to feel comfortable here and feel like Township Green is a positive member of the community.”

“When we talk about starting a cannabis business in New Jersey, we are talking about what Scott and Township Green have done in Riverside,” Singleton explained. “Scott is focusing on creating opportunities to revitalize a downtown, hiring local residents, and giving back to communities. This is exactly what advocates for legalization had in mind.”

“Township Green exemplifies what we hoped to achieve by legalizing cannabis in New Jersey,” Rudder explained. “We’re focused not just on providing a great product but on building a sense of community and bringing commerce to downtown Riverside.”

Enjoying the Opening

Live music was played while food and beverages were enjoyed at the Township Green dispensary opening party.

Township Green dispensary has a drive-thru since the building was previously a bank. Only a few New Jersey cannabis dispensaries have drive-thrus.

“It’s just been so exciting. Now, it’s the rest of the rest of the story. You gotta hustle every day after. Cannabis is a never-ending story,” Rudder noted about opening.

He enjoys the story.

“I wanted to be in the space for a very, very long time, for years. I was in the cannabis closet as an adult as many people are. It’s something I tracked and watched,” SR explained about getting into cannabis.

“Because I was a former mayor it made more sense to open a dispensary,” Rudder added.

Township Green Dispensary of Riverside

Rudder opened Township Green as part of a commitment to help revitalize and bring foot traffic and customers downtown. The dispensary will employ approximately 20 people. The majority will be local residents. Some can even walk to work. Township Green’s Chief of Security is the retired Riverside Chief of Police. Several dispensary security personnel are local firefighters.

First-time customers receive a 20% discount on their purchases.

Township Green is the only dispensary in Riverside so far. Township Green is also the closest dispensary to northern Philadelphia. It’s less than seven miles from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.

Township Green wants to serve the finest cannabis flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, tinctures, edibles, and accessories in South Jersey.

Rudder noted the need for more cultivators and manufacturers that are mom-and-pop businesses. Many New Jersey cannabis consumers and business owners are looking forward to seeing them come to market as well.

Money Issues

Despite being NJCBA President, Rudder had issues raising money like many others.

When interest rates and inflation went up, it became harder to raise money.

“I spent many months trying to find money from big investors. You get down ready to sign on the dotted line and it’s ridiculous in some cases. One little bit of failure and they’ll gobble up your license,” Rudder noted.

“A lot of the folks out there are predators,” he exclaimed. “They want to take your dream. They want to take your hard work. They’re looking forward to you being unable to pay your debt. There’s some good folks out there too.”

So, Rudder went looking for lower dollars from more people versus one source and made progress.

“It took a lot longer than I anticipated like everyone else,” he noted. “A start up in any category… is a risky proposition. You pile on cannabis on top of it with the federal issues and the banking issues.”

Only risk high people and friends and family got in.

“It’s taken a lot longer to raise the money. A lot of people just stopped,” Rudder explained.

Opening in Town

Township Green dispensary found a building last October. It had been abandoned for 13 years Rudder noted. Construction took five months.

While being the former mayor of a nearby town, he said he didn’t know the Riverside Council initially when he wanted a resolution there.

“It does help I speak the language,” he noted. “It wasn’t easy at first.”

Rudder noted he made an effort to develop a relationship with them and charm them.

“They’ve been very helpful whenever there’s a challenge,” he added.

The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved their annual license needed to open in February 2023.

Noted NJCBA President Background

Rudder is a former Republican Mayor, Assemblyman, and veteran of the Army National Guard.  

Rudder has dedicated nearly the last decade of his life to the legalization and entrepreneurial expansion of medical and adult-use cannabis. He founded the NJCBA in 2016 to serve as the state’s premiere cannabis trade industry association.

Rudder noted that while there were organizations like CMMNJ for medical patients and many social justice advocates, few advocates considered the business side.

They did a lot of pioneering work advocating for New Jersey adult-use cannabis legalization.

“We went on a years long campaign to help people get started… to advocate,” Rudder added.

Notably, Rudder has understood and endorsed the idea of a large New Jersey cannabis market with many licensed dispensaries, cultivators and manufacturers owned by small businesspeople who are local, women, minorities, and those harmed by the War on Drugs.

This is not the view of the whole New Jersey cannabis industry.

Leading NJ Cannabis Advocate

After the initial generation of radical New Jersey cannabis advocates like the late Jeff Oakes, who often protested, Rudder represented a second wave of more established political figures entering the arena. With other NJCBA leaders like Tara “Misu” Sargente, they inspired a wave of independent dispensary license seekers. Each wave was inspired by the preceding ones and inspired the succeeding ones.

Rudder stepped down from being NJCBA and was succeeded by Ed DeVeaux. DeVeaux thus led the fight on several issues. He was featured at Heady NJ’s first forum, among other places, while President. However, DeVeaux, a Democratic lobbyist, took a position working for the Mayor of New Brunswick and stepped down. So, Rudder became President again.

Thus, SR is one of the most influential New Jersey cannabis advocates.

He’s also one of the few Republicans who were prominent in the legalization fight. Many progressive Democrats favor legalization and have been vocal about it. However, libertarian-minded Republicans who believe in the rights of the individual are also supporters of legalization. Both sides like that it can be profitable.

Golden Door Dispensary Opens in Jersey City

Golden Door Dispensary held a grand opening in Jersey City in Hudson County in North Jersey recently. It is a micro dispensary that is selling flower from the new cultivator Garden Greens.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Brett D’Alessandro is the owner.

He runs a non-profit called Backpacks for Life to help homeless veterans. According to his LinkedIn he is based in Jersey City. D’Alessandro is also the Vice President of Sales for a company as well as a longshoreman.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop was there to cut the ribbon.

“Jersey City has really been at the forefront of legalization and as a policy we didn’t put an arbitrary cap on local dispensaries we are allowing the market to decide winners/losers + the best operators,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

They are located in the Journal Square area by the Hudson County Courthouse.

Long Path to the Finish Line

Golden Door Dispensary got Jersey City Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approval initially in October 2022. Former Governor Jim McGreevey spoke on his behalf after working with him.

The CCB recently gave Golden Door Dispensary the final approval necessary before opening. They first approved them in October 2022.

The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) approved their conversion to an annual license needed to open last August.

They secured a Jersey City Council resolution necessary to open in December 2022.

Golden Door Dispensary won grant money awarded by the State.

They’re the 7th in the city to open after:

1. Downtown Flwr
2. RIPT
3. The Cannabis Place
4. Garden Greens
5. 1634 Funk
6. Leaf Joint
7. Golden Door Dispensary

Jersey City already has the most dispensaries per city by far. Nonetheless, the City Council has approved 42 resolutions allowing legal New Jersey adult-cannabis dispensaries to open in the city.

The Adult-use New Jersey Weed Dispensaries List:

1. Apothecarium Dispensary 55 SOUTH MAIN ST. PHILLIPSBURG Medicinal and Recreational MSO
2. Apothecarium Dispensary 1865 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE MAPLEWOOD  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
3. Apothecarium Dispensary200 NJ-17 LODI Medicinal and Recreational MSO
4. Ascend 174 ROUTE 17 NORTH ROCHELLE PARK -Rochelle-Park  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
5. Ascend 461-469 WEST STATE STREET FORT LEE Medicinal and Recreational MSO
6. Ascend 395 BLOOMFIELD AVE MONTCLAIR Medicinal and Recreational MSO
7. Ayr Wellness (formerly Garden State Dispensary) 950 US 1 NORTH WOODBRIDGE  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
8. Ayr Wellness 59 MAIN ST EATONTOWN Medicinal and Recreational MSO
9. Ayr Wellness 2536 RT 22 UNION Medicinal and Recreational MSO
10. BLOC 1075 EASTON AVE SOMERSET Medicinal and Recreational MSO
11. BLOC 501 US-9 WARETOWN Medicinal and Recreational MSO
12. BLOC 1761 NORTH OLDEN AVENUE EWING  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
13. The Botanist 100 CENTURY DRIVE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Medicinal and Recreational MSO
14. The Botanist 2090 N BLACKHORSE PIKE WILLIAMSTOWN Medicinal and Recreational MSO
15. RISE 196 3RD AVENUE #3-C PATERSON Medicinal and Recreational MSO
16. RISE 26-48 BLOOMFIELD AVE BLOOMFIELD Medicinal and Recreational MSO
17. The Cannabist 1062 NORTH DELSEA DRIVE VINELAND Medicinal and Recreational MSO
18. The Cannabist 1692 CLEMENTS BRIDGE RD DEPTFORD  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
19. Curaleaf 191 RTE 130 BORDENTOWN Medicinal and Recreational MSO
20. Curaleaf 640 CREEK ROAD BELLMAWR Medicinal and Recreational MSO
21. Curaleaf 4237 US-130 South EDGEWATER PARK Medicinal and Recreational MSO
22. MPX NJ 153 S. NEW YORK AVENUE ATLANTIC CITY Medicinal and Recreational MSO
23. MPX NJ 5035 CENTRAL HWY PENNSAUKEN / Medicinal and Recreational MSO
24. MPX NJ 581 BERLIN-CROSS KEYS ROAD SICKLERVILLE  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
25. Zen Leaf 3256 BRUNSWICK PIKE LAWRENCE TWP. Medicinal and Recreational MSO
26. Zen Leaf 117 SPRING STREET ELIZABETH  Medicinal and Recreational MSO
27. Zen Leaf 2100 ROUTE 66 NEPTUNE Medicinal and Recreational MSO
28. Valley Wellness 407 US-202 RARITAN Medicinal and Recreational
29. Aunt Mary’s Dispensary  100 REAVILLE AVE. SUITE 211 FLEMINGTON Medicinal and Recreational
30. RIPT 220 BROADWAY JERSEY CITY Medicinal and Recreational
31. NJ Leaf 546 PARK AVENUE FREEHOLD Medicinal and Recreational
32. Design 710 112 PARK PLACE ATLANTIC CITY Medicinal and Recreational
33. downtown FLWR 141 NEWARK AVENUE JERSEY CITY Medicinal and Recreational
34. Brute’s Roots 6206 BLACK HORSE PIKE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Medicinal and Recreational
35. Eastern Green 78 ROUTE 73 VOORHEES / Medicinal and Recreational
36. Garden State Botanicals 1345 US-1 NORTH BRUNSWICK Medicinal and Recreational
37. Garfield Gardens Dispensary 517 RIVER DRIVE GARFIELD Medicinal and Recreational MSO
38. Union Chill 204 N UNION ST, #108 LAMBERTVILLE Recreational cannabis only
39. Holistic Solutions LLC 451 WHITE HORSE PIKE ATCO Medicinal and Recreational
40. HoneyGrove 1337 BLACKWOOD-CLEMENTON ROAD GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP Medicinal and Recreational
41. Sweet Spot 903 WHITE HORSE ROAD, SUITE 2 VOORHEES Medicinal and Recreational MSO
42. URB’N Dispensary 378 SOUTH ST NEWARK Medicinal and Recreational
43. Earth & Ivy 355 GEORGE STREET NEW BRUNSWICK Recreational cannabis only
44. Nova Farms 642 MANTUA AVENUE WOODBURY Recreational cannabis only MSO
45. Social Leaf, The 334 ATLANTIC CITY BOULEVARD SOUTH TOMS RIVER Recreational cannabis only
46. Cookies Harrison 331 ANGELO CIFELLI DRIVE HARRISON Recreational cannabis only MSO
47. Leaf Haus 900 EASTON AVENUE, SUITE 18 SOMERSET Recreational cannabis only
48. New Era Dispensary 80-88 MAIN STREET SOUTH BOUND BROOK / Recreational cannabis only
49. Puffin Store 382 GEORGE STREET NEW BRUNSWICK Recreational cannabis only
50. Queen City Remedies 1353 SOUTH AVE PLAINFIELD Recreational cannabis only
51. A21 Wellness 2507 US HIGHWAY 22 SCOTCH PLAINS Recreational cannabis only
52. The Cannabis Place 1544 JOHN F. KENNEDY BOULEVARD JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only MSO
53. Camden Apothecary 1205 HADDON AVENUE CAMDEN Recreational cannabis only
54. 1634 Funk 394 COMMUNIPAW AVENUE JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only
55. Baked by the River 8 CHURCH STREET LAMBERTVILLE Recreational cannabis only
56. Molly Ann Farms 256 BELMONT AVENUE HALEDON / Recreational cannabis only
57. Cloud Nine Dispensary 513-27 ROUTE 22 NORTH PLAINFIELD Recreational cannabis only
58. Anja 225 WOODBRIDGE AVENUE HIGHLAND PARK Recreational cannabis only
59. Daylite Cannabis 1136 ROUTE 73 MOUNT LAUREL / Recreational cannabis only
60. Elevated by TheCannaBossLady 9 HIGHLAND PLACE MAPLEWOOD Recreational cannabis only
61. Garden Greenz 190 NEWARK AVENUE JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only
62. Evolve Cannabis 186 US-130 BORDENTOWN Recreational cannabis only
63. Elevated Herb 1846 ROUTE 23 WEST MILFORD Recreational cannabis only
64. Indigo 302 CRESCENT BOULEVARD BROOKLAWN Recreational cannabis only
65. Organic Farms 2895 MOUNT EPHRAIM AVENUE CAMDEN Recreational cannabis only
66. Mountain View Farmacy 74 OAK RIDGE ROAD WEST MILFORD Recreational cannabis only
67. Unity Rd. Cannabis Shop 441 ELIZABETH AVE SOMERSET Recreational cannabis only MSO
68. Hackettstown Dispensary 321 MOUNTAIN AVENUE HACKETTSTOWN Recreational cannabis only
69. Hello High 7685 BLACK HORSE PIKE HAMMONTON Recreational cannabis only
70. High Street Dispensary 811 HIGH STREET HACKETTSTOWN Recreational cannabis only
71. Highway 90 90 OLD MARLTON PIKE WEST EVESHAM Recreational cannabis only
72. Kind Kush 279 US-46 ROCKAWAY Recreational cannabis only
73. Med Leaf 201 PHILADELPHIA AVENUE EGG HARBOR CITY Recreational cannabis only
74. Noire Dispensary 171 MAPLEWOOD AVE MAPLEWOOD Recreational cannabis only
75. Phasal 1100 N BLACK HORSE PIKE RUNNEMEDE Recreational cannabis only MSO
76. Phula 60-62 HIGH STREET MOUNT HOLLY Recreational cannabis only
77. Pure Blossom 2554 PENNINGTON ROAD PENNINGTON Recreational cannabis only
78. Nightjar 549 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD Recreational cannabis only
79. Royal M 102A E FRONT ST PLAINFIELD Recreational cannabis only
80. Shore House Canna 124 SUNSET BLVD WEST CAPE MAY Recreational cannabis only
81. Hashery 409 NJ-17 HACKENSACK Recreational cannabis only
82. Soulflora 2713 NJ ROUTE 23, SUITE 5A NEWFOUNDLAND Recreational cannabis only
83. Terrapin Investment Fund “The Station” 86 RIVER ST. HOBOKEN Medicinal and Recreational MSO
84. Fire and Oak 5 WASHINGTON STREET MOUNT HOLLY Recreational cannabis only
85. Joy Leaf 711 EAST 1ST AVENUE ROSELLE Recreational cannabis only
86. The Leaf Joint  391 CENTRAL AVE, GROUND FLOOR JERSEY CITY Recreational cannabis only
87. Voltaire NJ 47 MILL STREET MOUNT HOLLY Recreational cannabis only
88. Dank Poet Dispensary 245 E WASHINGTON AVE WASHINGTON Recreational cannabis only
89. Cannabis Clubhouse 70-72 E MAIN STREET SUSSEX Recreational cannabis only
90. Blue Oak Dispensary 1025 Broad St, BLOOMFIELD, NJ 07003 Recreational cannabis only
91. Plantabis 2077 US-1, Rahway, NJ 07065 Recreational cannabis only
92. High Profile LAKEHURST Recreational cannabis only 145 NJ-70, Lakehurst, NJ 08733
93. The Dispensary of Somerset Recreational cannabis only
94. Township Green 15 Scott St Riverside NJ Recreational cannabis only
95. Golden Door Dispensary 638 Newkirk Jersey City Recreational cannabis only