As part of an ongoing commitment to support diverse, women- and minority-owned businesses in the cannabis industry, Union Chill Cannabis Co. is highlighting several products in its lineup.

In an Aug. 2 press release, the Lambertville-based recreational dispensary recognized several brands now available at its North Union Street shop, including:

• Brighterside Farms: Led by owner and founder Lyndsey Shaw, the 25-year-old cultivation company transitioned from Colorado to New Jersey in 2018 to prepare for the launch of its flagship location in Mays Landing.
• Hamilton Farms: A locally and diversely owned craft cannabis cultivator led by Rahul Patel and Kunal Lodaya dedicated to growing high-quality cannabis.
• Prolific Growhouse: A Black-owned underground legacy to legal grower in Mount Holly founded by David Nicolas, a first-generation Haitian American.

Matt Borish, vice president of marketing for Union Chill, said, “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. We feel strongly that supporting these companies is a critical part of establishing a level playing field in the cannabis industry.”

Community support

Patel said that for Hamilton Farms in Millville, “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.”

Lodaya noted that since the state’s market is still in its early stages “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,” he said.

Shaw commented, “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.”

Nicolas’ involvement with cannabis began at age 13, when selling became the only way to put food on the table and pay bills while his mother battled breast cancer. He said, “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.”

“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,” Nicolas added.

Lambertville’s first

Lambertville’s first recreational dispensary, Union Chill launched in June 2023. The business prides itself on offering customer-centric and education-focused services about the benefits of cannabis.

Along with high-quality products, Union Chill has a selection of arts, crafts and other goods from local vendors.

Its co-founder and CEO, Laurie McHugh, died in an August 2023 car crash. After, a scholarship was launched in her name for students at Stockton University looking to explore cannabis career pathways.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:31 a.m. EST July 11, 2025, to remove reference of the dispensary’s involvement in the scholarship that was set up in memory of its co-founder.