“All eyes are on New Jersey right now in this industry. Nationwide, and even to our brothers and sisters in Canada, we’re all looking to see what New Jersey is going to do. To be completely honest with you, there has not been a state yet that has passed legalization or adult use that has gotten it right,” said Wanda James, owner of Simply Pure marijuana dispensary in Denver.
James is a Colorado-based entrepreneur. In 2009, she became the first African-American legally licensed to sell marijuana. She says just 1 percent of dispensaries across the nation are minority-owned, so she applied for a license in Paterson and Trenton, hoping to bring her experience and mission for social justice there.
“This is typical in the industry,” James said. “The reason why it’s typical is lack of funding. This is a $30 million project to be able to get off the ground.”