Cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey have been at the forefront of discussions since the legalization of marijuana in 2022. Many eager entrepreneurs are looking to get involved in the ever-growing cannabis industry — and among them is a New Jersey-based celebrity looking to set up a dispensary here in Hudson County. Rapper and actor Ice-T is teaming up with The Medicine Woman co-owner, Charis Burrett, to open up a cannabis dispensary in Jersey City. On July 25th, 2022, the duo and their marijuana dispensary — along with 3 other Class 5 retail applications — were approved by the Jersey City cannabis control board. Over a year later, Ice-T + Charis were officially approved by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission The Medicine Woman is hoping to open up at 660-684 Tonnelle Avenue this spring. Read on for what we know about Ice-T’s Jersey City-based dispensary.
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About The Medicine Woman
The Medicine Woman was founded by Charis Burrett and her husband, Luke Burrett, back in 2019. It initially began as a California-based non-profit, where it delivered over 300 products to its patients, according to the website.
“Our mission at The Medicine Woman is to provide a full-spectrum of global plant medicines to benefit the health and wellness of our local communities,” the website reads. “We have now expanded to offer more than 1,000 products, have launched our own multi-collection private label product line, and are currently in the development phase of launching our 2nd brick and mortar location.” The second brick-and-mortar location is the aforementioned Jersey City spot — and the first is located in Bellflower, CA.
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The Upcoming Jersey City Dispensary
Ice-T, also known as Tracy Lauren Marrow, has been in the public eye for decades now. He is known for being a rapper and, more recently, an actor, portraying Fin on Law & Order: SVU. Ice-T and Charis have been close friends for a long time, per Forbes. The collaboration makes a lot of sense; Charis is an expert in cannabis, while Ice-T is deeply familiar with the cannabis industry’s historically disproportionate impact on minority populations. Plus, Ice-T is also well-acquainted with New Jersey. He was born in Newark, grew up in Summit, and currently lives in Edgewater, NJ.
“I’ve dedicated my life and career to giving back and paving the way for minorities,” Ice-T said in a statement. “As a New Jersey native, I’m excited for the opportunity legalization offers our community, and I look forward to ushering in a new era for cannabis in the state.”
On July 25th, 2022, Jersey City’s Cannabis Control Board approved four Class 5 cannabis applicants — including The Medicine Woman. The other applicants were MedUSA NJ, LLC; Oceanfront Holdings LLC; and The Other Side Dispensary LLC, per TapInto.
The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board is in charge of creating and enforcing all things cannabis. All local dispensaries must receive its approval.
The Medicine Woman, which was hoping for a fall 2022 opening, is said to have 5,000-square-feet of retail space, and it will sell merchandise and NJ cannabis brands.
According to TapInto in 2022, The Medicine Woman had already partnered with some local non-profits, including The Last Prisoner Project, Jersey City Employment and Training Program, Jersey City Mural and Arts Program, and Hudson County Community College.
See More: New Cannabis Dispensary Nightjar is Open in Bloomfield
Updates as of January 2024
In January 2024, The Medicine Woman was “approved by the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) Wednesday,” January 17th, to sell recreational marijuana, per NJ.com. In a statement to NJ.com following the approval, Ice-T’s partner Charis said “We could not be more ecstatic… We are so thankful to Jersey City and everyone involved that has helped us to get to this point.”
Right now, the duo plans to open The Medicine Woman at 660-684 Tonnelle Avenue this spring or summer.
The Hoboken Girl will keep you in the loop as more information becomes available about Ice-T’s Jersey City dispensary. In the meantime, stay in the know with @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok.
