Governor Phil Murphy recently visited a Black-owned cannabis cultivator in Burlington County, underscoring his administration’s commitment to ensuring diversity in New Jersey’s burgeoning cannabis industry. The visit included a tour of Prolific Growhouse, a Mt. Holly-based company, which has even named a cannabis strain after the governor.
A Strain Named After Governor Murphy
The cannabis strain, launched last January, is described as “a delightful mix of sour lemon, sweet tangerine, with hints of diesel and pine.” Named “Murphy’s Sourz,” it was designed to catch the governor’s attention. “We were like, ‘Let’s try to get Governor Murphy’s attention with this one,’” said David Nicolas, CEO of Prolific Growhouse. Nicolas was pleasantly surprised when Governor Murphy paid an unexpected visit.
“I’m honored,” the governor said, posing with a flier promoting “Murphy’s Sourz.”
Showcasing Industry Equity
Prolific Growhouse represents a success story in a relatively new and fast-evolving industry. Governor Murphy’s visit aimed to spotlight his administration’s ongoing efforts to foster equity within New Jersey’s cannabis market. Since the first licenses for growers were awarded a few years ago, the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission has approved 1,943 licenses, with 70% awarded to diversely-owned businesses. Currently, there are 115 adult-use businesses in operation, including 13 cultivators.
“I still want to see… more equity, more reward and redemption for the folks who were crushed by the war on drugs,” Murphy said.
Growing Success in New Jersey’s Cannabis Market
Recreational cannabis is now widely available in New Jersey, and the market is thriving. During his visit, Governor Murphy toured Prolific Growhouse’s facility, which is in expansion mode. Nicolas showcased the rooms where cannabis is grown, processed, packaged, and marketed, and shared plans for future growth, including new flower rooms, cloning spaces, additional packing rooms, a vault, and an employee break room.
“To finish this, we’ll need $700,000,” Nicolas explained. “We were fortunate enough to get a NJEDA grant, which covered a small portion of it.”
Murphy praised Nicolas for the operation he established. “You’re a role model for exactly what we want this industry to look like,” he said.
Personal Journey Fuels Passion
David Nicolas, a first-generation Haitian American from Trenton, uses his personal experiences to drive his business. “I use cannabis to survive and pay bills,” Nicolas said, recounting how cannabis helped his family during his mother’s battle with breast cancer. By the time he reached Rowan University, he was using cannabis for medicinal purposes and as a means to support his community.
Nicolas also faced numerous challenges, including frequent police stops and arrests that almost derailed his college education. However, he turned these experiences into positives, assembling his team in 2021, the same year Governor Murphy signed bills legalizing recreational marijuana. Prolific Growhouse now employs ten people, with an average age of 25.
“This group is probably the youngest in the nation, operating a legal cannabis business,” Nicolas said. “But everyone here has hustle, and is definitely dedicated towards this company.”
Despite the progress, Nicolas pointed out that financial barriers remain a significant challenge for minority-owned businesses. “People who come from my background, especially from the inner city, [most] don’t have the amount of capital that it takes to start up one of these,” he said. He suggested that the state could improve by providing more grants and opening up existing grants for non-cannabis businesses to those in the cannabis industry.
Governor Murphy’s visit to Prolific Growhouse highlights both the successes and ongoing challenges within New Jersey’s cannabis industry. As the state continues to push for greater equity, stories like Nicolas’s underscore the importance of support and investment in minority-owned businesses.
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