Scott Rudder, the original founder of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, is opening his own dispensary, Township Green, on Monday in Riverside, aiming to help revitalize the downtown Burlington County city.
A former Republican mayor, assemblyman and veteran, Rudder dedicated nearly the last decade of his life to the legalization and entrepreneurial expansion of medical and adult-use cannabis. In 2016, he founded the New Jersey CannabisBusiness Association to serve as the state’s premier cannabis trade industry association. Rudder helped organize and was a top consultant to statewide campaigns to legalize cannabis in New Jersey in 2020, the same year NJ.com dubbed him the “Mayor of Cannabis.”
Located at 15 Scott St., Township Green will employ approximately 20 people, with the majority of them being local residents, some of whom can walk to work.
According to a release, the dispensary was born out of the idea that, in this new era of responsible, legalized cannabis, community matters most. It’s about making a connection with customers and sharing a passion and expertise so there can be a positive impact in the community.
“Township Green exemplifies what we hoped to achieve by legalizing cannabis in New Jersey,” Rudder said. “We’re focused not just on providing a great product, but on building a sense of community and bringing commerce to downtown Riverside. Please join us on March 25 as we start this new and exciting chapter for the community.”
Township Green’s chief of security is the retired Riverside chief of police and several of the security personnel for the dispensary are local firefighters.
The dispensary will hold its grand opening at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Local officials and dignitaries will be on hand to cut the ribbon. Food and beverages, along with live music, will be part of the event and first-time customers will receive a 20% discount on their purchases.
