With the opening of Simply Pure Trenton in his hometown of Ewing, Tahir Johnson will blaze a new trail as he becomes the first entrepreneur with a cannabis-related conviction to own and operate a legal adult-use dispensary in New Jersey.
Construction is set to wrap up by the end of May with a grand opening scheduled for June, and the well-known 39-year-old cannabis advocate couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.
Along with providing a high-end retail setting with premium products and offering a positive cannabis experience through education, inclusion and social justice, Johnson ultimately hopes his road from legacy to legit will show others that there is opportunity in the nascent market for underrepresented populations, such as minorities, women and those impacted by the war on drugs.
In May 2022, Johnson and his lifelong friend John Dockery – who have both been arrested for marijuana possession – secured two of the first 11 conditional class 5 retailer licenses in the state, putting the Trenton natives on the path to selling cannabis legally in New Jersey.
After earning a conditional license, Johnson raised capital, acquired property and secured local approvals. And, last month, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission signed off