But of those 13 medical marijuana dispensaries that were first allowed to open, none appear to be owned by Black and Brown operators — despite the state’s often-stated public commitment to racial equity.
“I am seeing a lot of the community…both celebrating an historic moment, but at the same time also waiting to utilize their dollar bills and put them forth to these minority-owned local operators,” said Jessica Gonzalez, an attorney for Hiller PC focusing on state cannabis licenses.
Those first 13 dispensaries are also run by large companies with nationwide operations — like Curaleaf, Ascend and others, which are sometimes referred to as “big cannabis.”
“If you look at a recent study from the New Frontier, it showed that five of the largest cannabis companies, and I believe most of them are already here in New Jersey, already control 70% of the East Coast regulated cannabis market,” said Precious Osagie-Erese, chief operating officer for Roll Up Life, a Black-owned cannabis delivery company in New Jersey hoping to begin operating soon.