To Brodchandel, the chief executive officer and founder of Secaucus-based dispensary Harmony Foundation, it’s just one example of how much the tide has turned in the Garden State, particularly when it comes to public sentiment about the use of cannabis, whether for medical or recreational purposes. As the one-year anniversary of adult recreational use in New Jersey approaches, he and others in the industry can reflect on how public opinion has evolved and the issues state regulators should focus on going forward. “It’s not just about running a business. It’s about changing stigma and perception,” Brodchandel said. “It takes a mix of patience and passion. So, when I notice those things happening, then I realize it actually is working.”
“It’s not just about running a business. It’s about changing stigma and perception,” says Harmony Foundation CEO Shaya Brodchandel. “It takes a mix of patience and passion. So, when I notice those things happening, then I realize it actually is working.”
Other entrepreneurs establishing themselves in the industry have had similar moments of realization. Tanmoy “TJ” Jadhav, chief executive officer and founder of MoJo Botanica LLC – a minority owned business looking to open its first cultivation and manufacturing facility this summer in Elizabeth – cited the statistics.
“The running joke in the industry is that the 2020 election was won by cannabis, as every ballot that this was on, passed with a significant majority,” he said. “New Jersey was one of them, with voters approving legalization by over 67%,” he said.