Buzzing Highlights from Zen Leaf New Jersey’s First Week of Adult-Use Sales!

New Jersey was abuzz the day after 4/20, and not just from the previous day’s sales. April 21, 2022 marked the first day of adult use cannabis sales in the state of New Jersey.  

Recreational cannabis is a big deal. It affirms the benefits of the plants and rejects the decades of cannabis disinformation and fear mongering. With the addition of New Jersey, 19 states – just shy of 40% of the country – have legalized the plant for adults 21+. As you can imagine, the first day and week of recreational cannabis in any state feels like a huge celebration. 

The state of New Jersey held one of the biggest adult use kickoffs yet, thanks largely in part to the gubernatorial welcome at Zen Leaf Elizabeth. 

Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Scutari, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin Tour Zen Leaf Dispensary Elizabeth 

The first people in line for adult use cannabis sales at Zen Leaf Elizabeth weren’t quite who you would expect – Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, and Governor Phil Murphy. They didn’t buy anything, of course, but instead took an exclusive tour of the dispensary.  

The New Jersey Statesmen were shown the array of cannabis options available to adult use cannabis users, from vapes to flower to edibles and more, and how operations within a legal New Jersey recreational dispensary work.  

Governor Murphy gave a moving speech to attendees of the first day of adult use sales in New Jersey. Instead of speaking to the monetary benefits state-funded programs will reap, he spoke to the ways medical cannabis patients will be prioritized in New Jersey and put a spotlight on the wrongs made during the War on Drugs and the significance of recreational cannabis: 

New Jersey’s dedication to correcting past wrongs incurred during the War on Drugs makes us incredibly proud to be a member of the state’s medical and adult use cannabis programs. 

Recreational Cannabis at Zen Leaf New Jersey

Zen Leaf and our Verano Cultivation have been preparing for the historic addition of adult use cannabis to the state’s plant program. With two of three Zen Leaf locations in the state offering adult use cannabis shopping, you are sure to find a dispensary near you – but what can you expect? 

Allow those who shopped with Zen Leaf the first days of recreational sales to tell you about their zen experience at Lawrence and Elizabeth. From the personal care given by our Cannabis Advisors to the variety of cannabis product options, Zen Leaf should be the top-choice dispensary for all New Jerseyans.  

Lawrence Cannabis Dispensary Reviews 

“Came for adult use recreational cannabis and was not disappointed! Short line (about five minutes), and excellent selection of products including flower, edibles, vape cartridges, and extract. They even had some basic paraphernalia, if you need it. Staff was friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!” 

- Andrew Shaw, via Google Reviews

“For the first day, and 17th order (8028986) of recreational sales... It was a pretty good experience. I love that dank smell that smacks you in the face when you walk in. The layout was nice, clean and smelled heavenly...The budtender (43140) was friendly, knowledgeable, and very patient. The system had a hiccup and management handled it right away. Expected when running a brand-new system for the first time...Overall the nostalgia was worth the trip, and the wait... I can't wait to watch the quality grow.” 

- Curtis Dubbeld, via Google Reviews

Elizabeth Cannabis Dispensary Reviews 

“It's a very big dispensary. Neat on the inside. It has a big parking lot, enough parking for everyone...Zen Leaf has enough staff for any questions...they gladly answer your questions. The dispensary has vapes, rolled blunts, eights up to one once per person. I'm glad it has become recreational and they sell by this dispensary legally and breaking a barrier. Good job keep it up ZEN LEAF 🌿🍀” 

- The Big O, via Google Reviews

While recreational cannabis was at the forefront of the festivities on April 21, 2022, Mr. Batis, a medical cannabis patient of Zen Leaf Elizabeth, spoke on behalf of the patients of New Jersey: 

“I suffer from PTSD, anxiety, as well as personality dissociative disorder, my daily medication including cannabis help me function through the day. Even though today is about the sale of recreational cannabis the state of New Jersey has assured medical patients like me that we would not be left behind.” 

- Mr. Batis, Veteran

Zen Leaf Employees 

The zen experience would be nothing without our Cannabis Advisors. Cannabis product educators and plant enthusiasts, they are the guides to plant wellness, providing thoughtful suggestions and genuine connection.  

Too, providing these positions is a key goal at Zen Leaf – creating jobs with opportunity for growth to bolster the local community. Our Cannabis Advisors are some of the most passionate in the industry, even when facing the inevitable rush of adult use – 

“This is what we worked for. Like, we’re about to play the Super Bowl and it’s showtime,” Joe LoRusso, General Manager of Zen Leaf in Lawrence told New Jersey News 12.

What’s truly special about the cannabis space is how the passion for the space comes about. Destiny is a Supervisor at the Zen Leaf Elizabeth location, and at the launch of Elizabeth adult use sales, graciously shared her story about how cannabis legalization has impacted her life: 

“When my brother passed and I fell into my own depression, I realized the benefits of responsible cannabis use. I went from barely eating and never leaving my room to living life for him [my brother]. I hope he’s up there lighting one up for us right now.”  

Frequently Asked Questions About Zen Leaf New Jersey Adult Use

With new access to cannabis comes questions! From products to why Zen Leaf was chosen as one of the first cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey to offer adult use, find the answers below.

What Cannabis Brands are Offered at Zen Leaf Dispensaries? 

Several forms of Verano cannabis products are available at Zen Leaf Dispensaries, including: 

• Smokable flower, premium cannabis bud grown at our state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation 
• Verano Reserve Swift Lifts, (5) strain-specific pre-rolls measuring 0.5g each for 2.5g total 
• Verano Lozenges, premium, fruit-forward cannabis edible candies that provide 10mg per piece, 350mg per package  
• Verano Reserve Cartridges, 0.5g cartridges crafted with premium distillate and cannabis-derived terpenes extracted from Verano Reserve strains 
• Verano Essence Cartridges, 0.5g cartridges produced with premium distillate and all-natural terpenes 

Keep in mind that strains rotate as we harvest from the Verano New Jersey Cultivation! 

How Do I Become a Zen Leaf Employee? 

Zen Leaf aspires to be a leading job provider in every community we call home. Whether cultivation or dispensary, from New Jersey to Florida to Nevada and everywhere between, we are always seeking passionate individuals looking to be a part of an ever-changing market. If you have the buzz, view Zen Leaf open positions. 

Why was Zen Leaf chosen as one of the first adult-use dispensaries? 

The Verano New Jersey Cultivation and Zen Leaf Dispensary teams have worked tirelessly since adult use cannabis was proposed in 2021 – finding reliable, passionate cultivators and advisors, and growing the best cannabis in the state.  

This scaling of cultivation and dispensaries was no small feat, but was needed for a great reason – to show our commitment to providing adequate and consistent access to adult use and New Jersey medical cannabis markets. The Commission agreed, thereby granting Zen Leaf one of the first chosen facilities able to cultivate, produce, and sell cannabis products for the adult-use community. 

Shop Zen Leaf Elizabeth and Lawrence for New Jersey Recreational Cannabis

Zen Leaf Dispensaries had a memorable first day and week of sales thanks to the warm welcome from state officials and New Jerseyans alike – some of whom visited the dispensary without purchasing solely to witness the historic day!  

We are poised and ready to support all adults 21+ in addition to our dedicated patients with the best cannabis products in New Jersey.