Upscale Comfort: Inside Mercer Co. Dispensary Selling Recreational Pot

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The atmosphere was electric outside Zen Leaf Lawrence Township on Thursday, as the dispensary opened its doors to recreational marijuana users for the first time.

Long lines formed outside Zen Leaf well before opening time at 9 a.m. By 10.30 a.m. many had passed through the dispensary doors, with customers still lining up outside.

But inside, it was business as usual at this swanky dispensary, with a focus on medical marijuana users and customer comfort.

“As far as supply goes, we're in very good shape. Obviously, there will be high demand, but we've been ramping up at our cultivation and production facilities to make sure that we don't have any supply issues,” said Zack Swan, National Director, Retail and Marketing at Verano, the parent company that owns Zen Leaf.

Verano is among two companies to receive approval to make cannabis products, said Swan. Their products would not only be available at Zen Leaf but the other 10 dispensaries that have been approved in the state for adult use. Their production facility is located in Branchburg, at a former Walmart. “Right now, we have a little over 200 employees in the state working for us,” Swan said.

Inside the Mercer County dispensary, customers will find a soothing environment with well-lit shelves and labeled products — similar to an upscale tech or jewelry store.

“We want our consumers to feel safe and comfortable as soon as they walk in. Especially our medical marijuana users. We provide special care and attention to them,” Swan said. The dispensary has a separate line for medical marijuana users, and dedicated staff to cater to them. “I’ve been in New Jersey two weeks now to prepare for this day. We want everything to go smoothly,” said Shane Mayberry a Maryland-based sales employee.

Only customers aged 21 and above are allowed inside the dispensary, after clearing an initial screening process. Trained staff work with experienced and first-time buyers to choose the right product. The products on sale are labeled and sold according to strict guidelines set by the state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Many local communities debating cannabis dispensaries have been concerned about the industry advertising to children. But in New Jersey, advertising rules are strict, said Swan. “There's a perception that cannabis can be very appealing to children. But the state has taken necessary precautions to make sure that's not possible. Our products are labeled accurately and not called gummies or some such,” Swan said.

“The packaging is comparable to a traditional medical product, and there's no pictures, imagery, nothing along those lines, that would be appealing to a child. The packaging is also child-resistant.”

Located in the bustling Route 1 corridor of Lawrence Township, Zen Leaf is close to restaurants, malls and hotels. While traffic was busy and slow on the route earlier Thursday, Swan believes it’s mainly due to the “initial excitement.”

“The township has been extra cooperative with us and they've sent additional officers to help mitigate any traffic concerns,” Swan said. “Long term, a lot of those traffic concerns will go away as the initial excitement dies down. But we've planned for it in coordination with the municipalities to make sure that it doesn't become a major issue.”

With Verano being the only company to receive approval to sell recreational pot in Central New Jersey, swan believes the location could be their biggest advantage. “It's just a great location in Central New Jersey, and folks have easy access to us, especially patients. Now with us offering home delivery it also makes it easier for us to provide these services due to the access within this area.”

Customers at the store are permitted to purchase only one ounce of product per transaction - that's one ounce of dried flower, 1000 mg of gummies or 5 grams of concentrates like oils or resins. One transaction can include a combination of items. Medical patients on the other hand can purchase up to three ounces.

Smoking marijuana is not permitted within the dispensary or 1,000 feet from the facility.

Zen Leaf has multiple products available in all primary categories, including vape, flower and ingestible products.

With three locations in New Jersey — Lawrence Township, Elizabeth and Neptune — Verano has reached its cap at the number of retail locations it can operate.

“We're really going to be focusing on the product side of our business — making sure that we continue to increase the number of products our patients have access to,” Swan said. “We've got a number of new brands that we hope to introduce later on this year, and then making those products available to our other dispensary customers.”

If you're heading out to pick up your first legal eighth, don't forget to carry cash: none of the dispensaries will be accepting credit card transactions due to federal legalities. Zen Leaf also has ATMs conveniently located within the dispensary.

The state Cannabis Regulatory Commission has issued the following tips for cannabis customers in New Jersey:

• Do: Be patient – expect long lines and wait your turn to be served.
• Do: Start low and go slow – follow product instructions and remember ingestible products can take longer to take effect than smoking or vaping. Call NJ Poison Center at 800-222-1222 if you are concerned you may have ingested or used too much.
• Do: Store your legal cannabis products securely, out of the reach of kids. Legal cannabis products are in child-safe packaging, but always keep them secure and out of the reach of anyone under the age of 21.
• Don't: Drive while high. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and dangerous.
• Don't: Cross state lines. It is illegal to transport legal cannabis products from New Jersey outside of New Jersey.
• Don't: Buy more than one ounce. Consumers can't purchase more than an ounce in a single transaction, and legally cannot possess more than one ounce at any time. Consumers could face criminal penalties if they disregard these limits.
• Do: Be safe, be smart, follow the rules.

You can read the state's guidelines for safe and responsible marijuana consumption here.

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