When Queen City Dispensary in Plainfield opened its doors Sept. 7, it did so with a ribbon-cutting celebration — and a lot of fanfare.
The mayor, the entire city council, planning board, dignitaries from Plainfield and greater Union County, state senators and representatives were in attendance. There was a local DJ and a food truck on site, too.
The party was two years in the making.
Queen City Dispensary, located at 1353 South Ave., is a rare success story in what the state hopes will be a booming cannabis industry — one that attempts to correct social justice issues of the past while bringing economic opportunity to those most adversely impacted.
Co-owners Justin Singer and Jennifer Brandt said their ties to the industry — and to a welcoming community of Plainfield — were key starting points. As was strong backing from the city and its mayor, Adrian Mapp.
“The city was obviously very excited about our opening,” he said. “It’s something that they had the foresight to know they wanted to be a leader in the adult-use cannabis space in New Jersey.”
“They’ve welcomed us with open arms and have been extremely great to work with.”
Singer, an