Lambertville, NJ – From co-founder Laurie McHugh’s initial vision for Union Chill as a woman-owned business through its one-year anniversary in June, Union Chill Cannabis Company has worked to highlight and support products from diverse, women-owned and minority owned businesses operating in the cannabis industry.
“The cannabis industry in New Jersey is growing and flourishing, with additional businesses from diverse operators, including many from the legacy market, offering unique brands and products,” said Matt Borish, Vice President of Marketing, Union Chill Cannabis Company. “We feel strongly that supporting these companies is a critical part of establishing a level playing field in the cannabis industry.”
Some of the brands available in the dispensary and on the virtual shelves on Union Chill’s website include Brighterside Farms, Hamilton Farms and Prolific Growhouse, among others.
Brighterside Farms
Brighterside Farms, led by owner/founder Lyndsey Shaw, is the culmination of 17 years of working in the legal cannabis industry and 25 years of cultivating cannabis starting in 1999. After operating in Denver, the company transitioned back to New Jersey in 2018 to prepare for the launch of Brighterside’s flagship location, where it remains focused on bringing better botany back to the cannabis industry through its soil-grown, organically fed, clean cannabis flower.
“After what seems to be eternity, we are so grateful to bring our products to the New Jersey market. We’ve spent the past decade patiently waiting to show the cannabis industry that the art of crafting beautiful cannabis is not lost. As a woman-owned company, we are ecstatic to build a female-based team built on strong culture and passion. Our company moto – Every Gram has an Impact,” said Shaw.
Hamilton Farms
A locally and diversely owned craft cannabis cultivator, Hamilton Farms is dedicated to growing New Jersey’s highest-quality cannabis. Led by Rahul Patel and Kunal Lodaya, Hamilton Farms prides itself on its meticulous care of each and every plant the company grows.
“Getting to this point was a herculean task that took almost three years and nearly everything we and our families had, but we are immensely grateful to the community and the overwhelming support we’ve received now that we’re finally on dispensary shelves,” said Patel.
“New Jersey’s cannabis market is still in its early stages, and it’s incredibly important for all of us to vote with our dollars and decide what we want our market to look like. It’s clear that the Union Chill team is focused on this, and we thank them for being such great partners in supporting businesses such as ours,” said Lodaya.
Prolific Growhouse
Prolific Growhouse is a black-owned cannabis cultivation and farming business that was founded by David Nicolas, a first-generation Haitian American. His journey with cannabis began out of necessity; during his childhood, his mother battled breast cancer, and by the age of 13, cannabis became the only way to put food on the table and pay bills.
Inspired by his experiences and the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey, David assembled a dedicated team to start Prolific Growhouse in 2021, which aims to create a more inclusive and equitable cannabis community. Its flagship strain, Kobe, is a unique blend of Chemdawg and Hindu Kush that produces a perfect sleepy, hungry and relaxed effect.
“Prolific Growhouse is about more than just cannabis; it’s about community. We strive to uplift black-owned, woman-owned, and minority-owned brands and create opportunities for growth and collaboration,” said Nicolas. “Our journey started in Trenton, NJ, where cannabis was more than just a plant; it was a means of survival. Today, we use that same resilience and passion to grow top-quality cannabis and build a business that supports our community.”
Union Chill plans to continue seeking opportunities to feature new products from diverse, women-owned and minority owned businesses in the future.
“We believe that it is our responsibility as industry leaders to support the diverse brands that not only have fantastic products but have also shaped our industry into what it is today,” added Borish.
Union Chill Cannabis Company, Lambertville’s premier locally owned dispensary, opened in 2023. With a community-centric focus, Union Chill is committed to community involvement, education and integrity. To learn more about Union Chill, please visit https://unionchillco.com.
