Cannabis Variety Named After New Jersey Governor
June 6, 2024
Phil Murphy recently visited Prolific Growhouse in Mount Holly, where the recreational cannabis producer unveiled a cannabis variety named in his honor: Murphy Sourz.
The visit highlighted the rapid growth of New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis market and the increasing visibility of social equity cannabis businesses across the state.
Governor Visits Prolific Growhouse
During the visit, Governor Murphy toured the Prolific Growhouse cultivation facility to see firsthand how New Jersey’s cannabis industry has evolved since legalization passed.
Murphy praised founder David Nicolas and the role social equity entrepreneurs are playing in shaping the state’s legal cannabis market.
“Entrepreneurs like David Nicolas give me hope that we can build a strong and diverse industry that reverses some of the worst effects of the War on Drugs,” Murphy said.
The governor was photographed holding promotional material for Murphy Sourz, a strain described as featuring:
Sour lemon notes
Sweet tangerine flavors
Hints of pine
Diesel undertones
New Jersey’s Recreational Cannabis Market Continues to Surge
New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis market has experienced major growth since legal recreational sales launched in April 2022.
According to state figures:
First-quarter 2024 cannabis sales exceeded $201 million
Sales increased roughly 38% year-over-year
Combined medical and adult-use sales reached more than $800 million in 2023
The state is projected to surpass $1 billion in cannabis sales during 2024
The growth has helped establish New Jersey as one of the strongest emerging cannabis markets on the East Coast.
Medical Cannabis Enrollment Continues to Decline
While recreational cannabis sales continue climbing, New Jersey’s medical cannabis program has seen a significant drop in enrollment.
State patient totals reportedly declined from:
129,369 registered patients in May 2022
to78,045 registered patients by May 2024
That represents a decline of nearly 40 percent in two years.
The decrease has been linked in part to:
High physician certification costs
Easier access to recreational cannabis
Reduced incentives for patients to remain in the medical system
In response, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission reduced medical cannabis registration and renewal fees, including offering free digital patient cards.
Despite those efforts, many consumers continue transitioning from medical purchases to the recreational market.
The Shift From Legacy to Legal
The Prolific Growhouse visit also symbolized New Jersey’s broader “legacy-to-legal” movement, where individuals previously impacted by cannabis prohibition are now becoming licensed operators in the legal market.
As the state’s cannabis industry matures, businesses like Prolific Growhouse continue positioning themselves at the center of New Jersey’s evolving cannabis culture and economy.