SJM_DEPT_Health_Marijuana_Delivery_0821_Dept 8 / 26 / 21 12 : 05 PM Page 2 “ My mother lives in a retirement not unlike purchasing weed from a Moeller says he’s been a marijuana home and we’ve delivered to [ resi - dealer on the black market . enthusiast for many years and since dents ] at her home 20 or 30 times , ” he “ There is always a little concern the day the constitutional amendment says . when you aren’t personally buying passed on the ballot , he knew he Marc Whitman * is a Washington directly from a cultivator , says Birch . wanted to get involved in the industry . Township resident who has used a “ But , a good chunk of us started out But cutting through the red tape has delivery service he found on Instagram buying weed from some dude out of proven to be difficult and the cost of called Dank Donations . To date , he’s his locker in high school . You were the license likely prohibitive . used the service three times and says lucky to know if it was sativa vs . indica , “ In New Jersey , we are already 10 the experience has been fairly smooth . let alone strain and cultivar . ” steps behind these huge corporate dis - “ You make Like Birch , Whitman turned to pensaries . They have the [ financial ] a ‘ donation ’ and choose online communities to find out more backing and the politicians behind your gift and then set up a delivery about the services available in New them . That’s great , I give them all the window , usually within 24 hours , in Jersey . “ There’s a Reddit group where credit . But what do you expect young some cases even later that day . I put people talk about their experience and entrepreneurs to do ? ” he says . “ I want the cash in my mailbox and they review the vendors . That’s all I to be recognized and operate com - replace it with my gift bag — the bag is really pletely open and freely . We have a great full of random stuff like a candle , an air had to go by , so I guess I got kind of attorney , a great cannabis CPA firm to freshener , rolling papers , a lighter , lucky , ” he says . get our taxes in order ; we are not trying etc . , ” he says . Because much of how they operate to skate by , I want a license . ” While the majority of these services remains shrouded in secrecy , the com - To utilize cash payments , Whitman says panies we spoke with would not ther show a sense of goodwill , fur he would prefer using an electronic divulge their suppliers . Moeller simply since switching to the new model , payment system . offered that once an order is placed , Slumped Kitchen introduced a charity Another South Jersey resident , the product is secured through a component to the business where each Robert Birch * , has used several dif - partner and packaged for delivery . month a portion of their proceeds will ferent services for delivery . “ [ My expe - Gindi also respectfully declined to be handed out to an organization . Its rience ] has honestly been pretty great , ” share his supply chain , but notes “ we first donation of $ 23,390 went to Just he says . “ Of the dozen or so times I’ve have had excellent responses from Believe Incorporated , a Toms River ordered , I’ve only been slightly disap - customers who appreciate our very nonprofit that works with the home - pointed in the overall quality of the good organic product , fast service and less and disenfranchised in Ocean flower one time . ” transparency . We can ensure that it is County . That brings into question where all top quality . ” Another statewide operation that exactly the marijuana Now that the CRC has begun to was served a cease - and - desist letter , being gifted is move things forward , the future of NJ Green Direct , also launched in Jan - coming from . While a legal dispensary these delivery services is uncertain . uary and founder Sam Gindi echoes would have information on the pro - Will folks still want to patronize them if Moeller’s complaints about the ducer and content of their product , licensing process and thus he antici - consumers utilizing the delivery ser - * Names have been changed for confidentiality pated running into legal issues . vices are forced to take a leap of faith , “ We knew the state would want their money and already promised certain donors the licenses , ” Gindi says . “ We know the licensing process is not open to the public , and many out - of - state people with big ney are already the mo first on the commission’s list for licenses . ” Despite the hurdles faced , the companies we spoke to appear to be thriving . And don’t think it’s just college kids looking to score a bag . Gindi says roughly 75 % of his customer base is over the age of 50 . Likewise , Moeller says his cus - tomers range in age , but that he certainly has his fair share of more mature customers . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 18 issue 5 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 55