Cannabis is more than just a way to unwind for Francesca DeRogatis – it’s a passion project and career.
After being prescribed medication for anxiety, she took an interest in cannabis legalization, with her college thesis focusing on public policy implications of legalizing medical marijuana. More than a decade later, the policy landscape looks much different than it did during Francesca’s senior year.
“I never thought I’d see legalization for recreational use, or that working in the industry could be an option for me,” said DeRogatis. “Before cannabis, I did marketing work for vitamin and supplement companies, as well as alcohol brands. All are regulated goods that have a lot of commonalities with cannabis, but none of those industries carried the same stigma or need for education and changing hearts and minds like cannabis does.”
Today, DeRogatis and a team of like-minded industry professionals are gearing up for opening day at Nightjar, a new cannabis dispensary slated to open near Bloomfield’s Town Center. Once opened, Nightjar will be the Township’s second dispensary, and the only one located in the downtown corridor.