Marijuana pioneers partner to expand Black-owned retail locations
Published August 6, 2024
Cannabis advocates and entrepreneurs Tahir Johnson and Wanda James partnered to launch Simply Pure Trenton, one of the few Black-owned adult-use cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey.
The collaboration represents a milestone not only for New Jersey’s cannabis market, but also for Black ownership within the broader cannabis industry.
A Historic Partnership
The Trenton dispensary opened through a licensing agreement between Johnson and James, whose original Simply Pure location first launched in Colorado in 2015.
The partnership helped bring James’ long-term vision of franchising cannabis retail opportunities to social equity entrepreneurs and historically marginalized communities into reality.
“Very few things in life are damn near perfect, but this partnership is one of them,” James said.
The alliance is believed to have created the cannabis industry’s first Black-owned multistate retail operator.
Rather than partnering with a large multi-state operator, Johnson financed the project through outside investors along with debt and equity deals.
“I had bigger companies with deeper pockets that wanted to partner, but that wouldn’t have made sense,” Johnson said. “Not only am I part of the brand, but I get Wanda, herself, as a mentor.”
Spotlighting Black-Owned Cannabis Brands
Following the model established by Simply Pure in Colorado, the Trenton dispensary dedicated premium shelf space and marketing support to Black-owned cannabis brands.
Featured brands included:
ButACake — New Jersey’s first Black-owned edibles brand
Mudd Brothers Cannabis Co. — East Windsor cannabis concentrates and vape company
Prolific Growhouse — New Jersey’s first Black-owned cannabis cultivator
According to the article, Prolific Growhouse sold out of its debut strain during Simply Pure’s opening weekend.
“Shelf space is paramount in this industry, and you rarely find Black-owned cannabis brands in Black-owned dispensaries,” said Mudd Brothers co-founder Brendon Robinson. “It’s great to know that we’re all creating history with one another.”
Community-Focused Cannabis
Simply Pure’s grand opening weekend included community-centered programming designed to create both cultural and social impact.
Events included:
A VIP launch party
A guest appearance by rapper Jim Jones
Live music performances
A restorative justice postcard campaign with 40 Tons
An expungement clinic hosted alongside Glory Firm that helped clear cannabis records for local residents
“We’re trying to make a cultural and a social impact at the same time,” Johnson said.
Building Equity in Cannabis
Wanda James, widely recognized as a cannabis industry pioneer, has long advocated for decriminalization, social equity and minority ownership in cannabis.
Her partnership with Johnson and the launch of Simply Pure Trenton reflected a broader mission to create meaningful ownership opportunities and community investment within legal cannabis markets.
“The industry was a passion for both of us,” James said, “and we both had a lot of the same feelings about business, what the plant stood for and what it could mean for community.”