February 14, 2023
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Holistic Solutions debuted on Friday in Atco, Camden County, as the first medical marijuana store in New Jersey operated by a Black woman.
It is the 33rd dispensary to open in New Jersey since the program’s inception a decade ago. Today marked the grand launch of their medicinal cannabis dispensary or Alternative Treatment Center (ATC).
Holistic Solutions Dispensary Details
The ATC contains nearly 4,000 square feet of retail space, 11 Point of Sale (POS) terminals for streamlined transactions, a private consultation room for consultations with medical specialists, and a drive-thru window. It will provide compassionate care and instruction to New Jersey’s Medicinal Cannabis Program participants (NJMCP).
Premium THC and CBD items, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, tinctures, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles, topicals, and accessories, will be available.
Cannabis products owned by women and Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), such as Miss Grass, will have substantial shelf space. In the near future, they also hope to offer products from the Black woman-owned business But-A-Cake.
Miss Grass is a white labelling company owned by a New Jersey resident and launched overseas. It enabled them to circumvent the difficult licensing process and profit from the New Jersey cannabis market. Cookies has a comparable offer.
It Is Common in Traditional Industries.
Pickup and drive-thru options will be instantly available upon launch. Delivery will be available in Spring 2023.They may be the first to deliver medical cannabis.
This week, Holistic Solutions held its soft opening.
Black Woman Entrepreneur Success Story
In the 2019/2021 medical cannabis dispensary licence lottery, proprietor Suzan Nickelson was awarded a licence. Leo Bridgewater, a prominent cannabis supporter, promoted Nickelson as a Black dispensary licence owner when debate emerged around the apparent paucity of Black proprietors in the New Jersey medical cannabis market.
Five years ago, Nickelson, a dedicated leader in the New Jersey cannabis community, began working to establish Holistic Solutions.
“I feel that cannabis is a sacred and spiritual plant that has been given to people for healing. Intentional stigmatisation led to our experience with the War on Drugs, which disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. This drove me to work tirelessly to open Holistic Solutions’ doors,” said Nickelson.
“The women in my family have passed down skills of working with many herbs for healing and spirituality to me. I eagerly anticipate using this expertise to operate my own cannabis business. Others can appreciate how potent this plant can be.”
Nickelson has served as a senior leader in various state government offices in New Jersey. She was the first person to civilianize the employee relations office of the Division of State Police.
She has experienced the negative impacts of cannabis prohibition firsthand.
In addition to owning a dispensary and raising three children as a single parent, she also operates a dispensary.
As a mother, Nickelson operates Ital Daughters LLC, a cannabis and hemp consulting firm that specialises in educating minorities, women, veterans, municipalities, and industry stakeholders to comprehend the regulatory aspects of the cannabis sector.
Many candidates for licences believed they had acquired sufficient knowledge to consult with others.
Nickelson is a devoted Jack and Jill of America member. It is a group of mothers committed to fostering the next generation of African-American leaders.
Cannabis Industry Assistance
Holistic Solutions was established with assistance from its minority partner, Eastbound Collective. Patrik Jonsson, formerly the Northeast Regional President for the big Multi-State Operator (MSO) Curaleaf, founded the company in April 2022.
Jonsson has mentored and partnered with a number of minority-owned cannabis companies in New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Eastbound Collective is comprised of cannabis industry professionals who left MSOs to form partnerships with minority-, veteran-, and women-owned companies. It was intended to generate new opportunities for a greater population.
“Only a small number of operators have the funds, site control, and experience to profit from holding a license. Our crew does,” remarked PJ.
New Jersey’s Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
The following medical cannabis dispensaries are open in New Jersey:
Holistic Solutions in Atco in Waterford.
Aunt Mary’s dispensary in Flemington
Bloc (an MSO), formerly Justice Grown in Franklin Twp.
Bloc (an MSO), formerly Justice Grown in Ewing.
Valley Wellness in Raritan Borough.
Sweetspot (an MSO) in Voorhees.
Breakwater in Roselle
Breakwater in Cranbury.
Harmony in Secaucus.
Ascend Wellness (an MSO) in Fort Lee
Ascend Wellness (an MSO) in Rochelle Park.
Ascend Wellness (an MSO, formerly Greenleaf) in Montclair.
Apothecarium (owned by TerrAscend, an MSO) in Lodi.
Apothecarium (owned by TerrAscend, an MSO) in Maplewood.
Apothecarium (owned by TerrAscend, an MSO.) in Phillipsburg.
MPX NJ (owned by iAnthus, an MSO) in Atlantic City.
Rise (owned by Green Thumb Industries, an MSO) in Bloomfield.
Rise (owned by Green Thumb Industries) in Paramus.
Rise (owned by Green Thumb Industries) in Paterson.
Curaleaf (an MSO) in Bordentown Twp.
Curaleaf (an MSO) in Bellmawr.
Curaleaf (an MSO) in Edgewater Park.
The Cannabist (owned by Columbia Care, an MSO) in Deptford.
The Cannabist (owned by Columbia Care, an MSO) in Vineland.
Zen Leaf (owned by Verano, an MSO) in Lawrence Twp.
Zen Leaf (owned by Verano) in Elizabeth.
Zen Leaf (owned by Verano) in Neptune Twp.
The Botanist (owned by Acreage Holdings, an MSO) in Williamstown.
The Botanist (owned by Acreage Holdings) in Egg Harbor.
The Botanist (owned by Acreage Holdings) in Atlantic City.
Ayr Wellness (an MSO, formerly Garden State Dispensary) in Woodbridge.
Ayr Wellness (an MSO, formerly Garden State Dispensary)in Union Township.
Ayr Wellness (an MSO, formerly Garden State Dispensary) in Eatontown.
