First Black Woman-Owned Cannabis Dispensary Opens In New Jersey

Suzan Nickelson is the first female, as well as the first black woman, to own a cannabis license in the state of New Jersey. Suzan was an awardee of a medicinal dispensary license in the NJ RFP 2019 round and is the first black woman majority owner and operator in New Jersey’s history. Under Suzan’s leadership, Holistic Solutions will open as the first and only dispensary in Waterford, NJ, which is located within the Philadelphia metro area.

The Alternative Treatment Center which has over 4,000 square feet of sales space, 11 POS stations for seamless purchasing, a private consultation room for discussions with onsite medical professionals, and a drive-thru window, will provide compassionate care and education to patients enrolled in New Jersey’s Medicinal Cannabis Program. A curated assortment of THC and CBD products, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, tinctures, vaporizers, concentrates, ingestibles, topicals, and accessories, will be available for patients at all stages of their cannabis journey. Women and BIPOC-owned cannabis brands, like Miss Grass and But-A-Cake, will have ample space on-shelf.

“Like the women who raised me, I believe cannabis is a plant of reverence and spirituality that has been given to people to heal - however intentional stigmatization led to what we went through in the War on Drugs that disproportionately hurt entire communities of Black and brown people. This is what fueled me to work relentlessly to open the doors of Holistic Solutions,” stated Suzan Nickelson. “The women in my family passed down generational knowledge of working with various herbs for healing and spirituality to me, and I look forward to using that knowledge to run my own cannabis business so others can understand just how powerful this plant can be in a pursuit of wellness and healing.”

Holistic Solutions opens with the help of its minority partner Eastbound Collective. Eastbound Collective was formed in April 2022 by Patrik Jonsson, formerly the Northeast Regional President for a large MSO.

Holistic Solutions celebrates its soft opening this week with limited hours until February 9th. During this time, the dispensary will be open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Starting February 10th, the dispensary will be open seven days a week, from 8:30 am - 9:00 pm Monday thru Saturday, and 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Sundays. Pickup and drive-thru convenience options will be available immediately upon opening, and delivery will be available in Spring 2023.

Benzinga's Cannabis Capital Conference Is Back

The most successful cannabis business event in the world, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, returns to Miami for its 16th edition. This is the place where DEALS GET DONE, where money is raised, M&A starts, and companies meet investors and key partners. Join us at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel in Florida on April 11-12. Don’t miss out. Secure your tickets now. Prices will surge very soon.

Photo by Diyahna Lewis on Unsplash