Sharon Ali opened her pair of dispensaries for adult-use sales just after 10 a.m. on April 21.
New Jersey’s launch didn’t happen in time for marijuana culture’s biggest holiday—state officials cited the potential for “unmanageable logistical challenges” as reason for waiting another day. But the launch would still be a massive success.
Ali, the regional general manager of The Botanist dispensary chain locations in Williamstown and Egg Harbor Township, oversaw two of just 12 legal marijuana stores given the green light to launch adult-use sales in New Jersey. Within hours of opening for business, she saw her inventory flying off the shelves like it was Black Friday at Walmart.
More than 1,000 people stood in line outside both Botanist dispensaries throughout the first day of sales, creating wait times of up to two hours. The New Jersey Cannabis Commission said 12,438 customers bought legal cannabis that day, spending a total of $1.9 million.
Despite spending weeks stacking up inventory in advance, Ali said some of the Botanist’s most popular products were slim on supply within a couple of days.
“We knew we’d have a lot of demand for Sour Banana Sherbet and Triangle Chem Cookies,” she said, referring to two of the chain’s most popular strains. “Thankfully we were well-prepared.”
