The Medicine Woman dispensary in Jersey City held its official grand opening on Saturday, April 19, 2025, during the 4/20 weekend. The event took place at 660 Tonnelle Avenue, a busy corridor already known for its growing cannabis industry. The dispensary was founded by Charis and Luke Burrett, with rapper and actor Ice-T as a co-owner and partner.
The dispensary had a soft opening earlier on March 25, but the grand opening drew hundreds of attendees. Ice-T, who is originally from Newark and now lives in Edgewater, New Jersey, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event included a large public gathering, significant traffic congestion, and the presence of several celebrities.
Council President Joyce Watterman of Jersey City also attended the event. She recognized the long journey it took to open the dispensary, which had been in development for five years.
The Medicine Woman becomes the 17th dispensary to open in Jersey City, joining a competitive market that includes Green Stop Wellness, Blossom, and others like Garden Greenz, Leaf Joint, and Legacy to Lifted.
- Ice-T officially opened the Medicine Woman dispensary in Jersey City on April 19, 2025, after five years of planning.
- The dispensary is co-owned by Charis and Luke Burrett and focuses on community hiring and cannabis justice.
- Medicine Woman partners with the Last Prisoner Project and Hudson County Community College to support local and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Medicine Woman Expands from California to New Jersey
The dispensary is an extension of the original Medicine Woman in Bellflower, California, which opened in 2019. The brand was founded by Charis and Luke Burrett, who began the business in 2015 as a nonprofit delivery service. Their California location continues to operate, and the Jersey City location is their second store.
Charis Burrett, a former Playboy model, and Luke Burrett, her husband, brought the concept to New Jersey with the help of their longtime friend Ice-T. The three decided to partner after Ice-T expressed interest in launching a cannabis business in his home state. He became a full co-owner in the Jersey City location, which is not a common arrangement for celebrity-involved businesses.
The dispensary covers nearly 9,000 square feet. The retail area spans about 5,000 square feet and includes three rooms: a reception area, a glass merchandise shop, and a dispensary room. The space is large, with the waiting room comparable in size to a bar. Inside, merchandise such as branded t-shirts and cannabis accessories is sold, along with a wide range of cannabis products. Ice-T’s gold and platinum records are displayed inside as part of the decor.
Social Justice and Local Hiring Are Central Goals
One of the core missions of Medicine Woman is to support cannabis justice. The dispensary works with the Last Prisoner Project (LPP), a nonprofit organization that advocates for the release of individuals incarcerated for cannabis offenses. Co-owner Luke Burrett has a personal connection to this issue, as his father served eight years in prison for cannabis-related charges.
The team has also partnered with Hudson County Community College to support local hiring and education. According to Charis Burrett, the dispensary is focused on bringing employment opportunities to the local community, especially to those affected by outdated cannabis laws.
Although the dispensary operates under New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis license, the team emphasized the medical and therapeutic benefits of cannabis. They plan to pursue additional licenses for manufacturing, distribution, and on-site consumption in the future.
Celebrity Presence and Community Turnout Highlight the Event
The grand opening attracted several celebrity guests and investors. Taylor Kinney, known for his role on “Chicago Fire,” is an investor in the business and participated in the celebration. Anthony “Treach” Criss, of the hip-hop group Naughty by Nature and also from New Jersey, owns 50 percent of the business alongside Ice-T and the Burretts.
The event included live music from DJ Kevie Kev Rockwell and drew a large crowd of fans. Many came to meet the celebrities, take photos, and tour the dispensary. The parking lot was filled, and traffic on Tonnelle Avenue slowed down as people arrived. VIP ticket holders had access to special areas and photo opportunities.
Ice-T’s wife, Coco Austin, and their daughter, Chanel Nicole, were also at the grand opening, spending time with guests and posing for photos. The event, called “Blazing & Praisin,” marked the official launch of Medicine Woman in Jersey City.
Jersey City Joins a Growing List of Cannabis Hotspots
With its launch, Medicine Woman joins a fast-expanding network of cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey. Since adult-use cannabis became legal in the state on February 22, 2021, more than 230 dispensaries have opened. Many hosted 4/20 events, although a few were canceled due to issues with local government approvals.
Other notable openings in North Jersey include Hashstoria in Newark, co-owned by rapper Raekwon and media personality Charlamagne tha God, and Village Hoboken, backed by former NBA player Al Harrington. These celebrity-linked openings highlight a shift in how cannabis businesses are launched, with partnerships that combine star power and operational experience.
Although Ice-T is publicly known for his law enforcement role as Detective Fin Tutuola on “Law & Order: SVU,” in real life, he has different business interests. He does not personally use cannabis but believes in its benefits and supports regulated, community-based cannabis businesses.
