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Michigan-based multistate operator NAR Cannabis is making its New Jersey debut.

Located at 4004 Church Road in Mount Laurel, the adult-use dispensary is set to mark its opening with a June 28 celebration featuring giveaways, entertainment and deals from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Festivities will include:

• Goodie bags with purchase for the first 200 customers
• A gift to the first 300 customers who spend $50 or more
• Free food with qualifying purchases
• 40% off the entire store (excluding specialty ounces)
• 30% off the first purchase for new customers

The event will also feature live music from DJ Big Leek, an appearance by the Ruff Ryders crew and a performance by rapper Drag-On.

Founded in 2021, NAR Cannabis aims to offer affordable pricing, transparent access to products and exceptional service through a fully guided budtender experience. The brand also has a rewards program that allows members to earn up to 2.5% cash back on every transaction.

In addition to price matching all competitors within a 10-mile radius, NAR Cannabis promises to beat those prices by 5%.

Outside of New Jersey, the MSO has four other retail locations in Michigan, Ohio and Mississippi.

NAR Cannabis co-owner Harrison Carter said, “Our goal is simple — deliver high-quality cannabis with transparency, value and a sense of community. New Jersey has a thriving market, and we’re here to elevate it with the culture and care that built our reputation in the Midwest.”

What’s the deal?

NAR Cannabis is the latest recreational dispensary to open within close proximity to Philadelphia. The new shop is situated about 10 miles from the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Currently, the Keystone State only permits medical marijuana dispensaries.

To make the trip across the Delaware River worth it, NAR Cannabis is giving new customers 30% off the first purchase. The shop will also cover a customer’s bridge toll if they spend $50 or more. Shoppers must show a valid Pennsylvania ID for eligibility for the discount. Shoppers may not combine the promotion with any other offers.

NAR Cannabis is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On June 21, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed HB 46 into law, making Texas the 40th medical cannabis state in the United States! Until now, Texas’ low-THC Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) has been so restrictive that MPP and others did not classify it as a medical cannabis state. 

Texas’ law has slowly evolved from an exceptionally restrictive low-THC medical cannabis program. Among other improvements, HB 46 will:

• Expand qualifying conditions, including by adding chronic pain
• Add modes of delivery, including non-smoked inhalation
• Expand the number of licensees from three to 15, while allowing satellite locations
• Replace the 1% THC limit with a 1 gram of THC per package limit

Texas’ medical cannabis program remains very restrictive, but this is huge progress in an extremely challenging legislature, and it will improve lives. You can find a full summary of HB 46 here. 
 
This upgrade in a deeply conservative state underscores that cannabis policy reforms are possible in all political landscapes. Texas joins “deep red” states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Dakota, and Utah in adopting comprehensive medical cannabis programs. 
 
The passage of HB 46 reinforces the fact that a vast majority of all Americans want access to legal, laboratory-tested cannabis products. With a population of over 31 million, potentially hundreds of thousands of Texans will have access to laboratory-tested medicine that can improve their quality of life. 
 
Patients, veterans, and advocates were unrelenting in their push to better meet the needs of medical cannabis patients.
 
Texans were also successful in influencing Gov. Greg Abbott to veto SB3, a bill that would have re-criminalized sales and possession of THC products (except CBG and CBD) outside of the TCUP. A special session has been called to begin on July 21, to decide regulations for hemp-derived THC products. 
 
The power of people organizing to further access to this life-saving medicine cannot be underestimated. The road forward to moving federal policy in line with what a supermajority of states have adopted is closer with the addition of Texas as a medical cannabis state.

The battle over consumable hemp products sold in certain places in Mississippi is now in limbo.

In a recently released opinion, Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) said hemp products designed to be consumed are illegal in most cases.

She said in order for them to be legal, they have to be sold through a licensed medical cannabis dispensary or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The opinion came in response to a request from Rep. Lee Yancey (R-Miss.) over the product.

Fitch said under state law, the answer is no unless they meet strict medical cannabis guidelines.