BudDigest

South Jersey’s newest dispensary is now open in Mount Holly. It’s called Voltaire and it offers a very cool kind of cannabis experience.

My visit to Voltaire marked the first time I’d ever step foot into a dispensary. I didn’t know what to expect.

Voltaire Dispensary in Mt. Holly

TSM South Jersey

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Upon entering Voltaire, I was immediately impressed by its sleek, modern lobby and friendly staff.

I was scanned in and got to see what was waiting behind Door #2. The actually dispensary is as unassuming as it is mesmerizing. For a cannabis novice, like myself, I found the process of exploring products FASCINATING.

Voltaire offers huge touchscreen kiosks that are so user friendly. I was able to browse products and read comprehensive yet easy-to-understand descriptions and instructions about all their offerings.

Kiosk Inside Voltaire Dispensary Mount Holly NJ

TSM South Jersey; Canva

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And if I had any questions, Voltaire staff was standing by to offer their expertise and suggestions.

Voltaire Dispensary in Mt. Holly

TSM South Jersey

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They’ve got an impressive merchandise section as well.

In the end, I left Voltaire with a canister of sleep gummies and GENIUS tablets that can help improve focus.

I didn’t know what to expect visiting a dispensary, but my first experience couldn’t have been more enthralling.

Voltaire

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In a significant move for New York’s cannabis industry, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of twelve new adult-use dispensaries across the state, from Brooklyn to Buffalo. By the end of December, New York is expected to have at least 37 dispensaries operational, marking a substantial growth in the legal adult-use cannabis market.

Governor Hochul emphasized the administration’s dedication to creating a safe, inclusive cannabis industry that supports small businesses. “This expansion is not just about business growth; it’s about building a market that is equitable and accessible to all New Yorkers,” she stated. These new dispensaries play a crucial role in ensuring a regulated market and displacing unlicensed operations.

Remarkably, among the new dispensaries, eight are majority Black-owned, five are Hispanic-owned, and nine are women-owned. This is a notable achievement, especially considering the national scarcity of Black-owned cannabis dispensaries.

Despite legal hurdles, including two court-ordered injunctions, New York has made significant strides in rolling out these new dispensaries. The state has also been active in combating unlicensed cannabis sales, with enforcement officers conducting over 350 inspections and seizing over 11,000 pounds of illicit cannabis.

Below are the recent and upcoming openings of these dispensaries, each contributing to the diverse

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As well-wishes pour in for his birthday, Pope Francis encourages Christians to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis turned 87 years old on Sunday, 17 December.

As he often does ahead of Christmas, the Pope spent a few moments with children and families assisted by the Santa Marta Dispensary, who presented him with a birthday cake and sang ‘Happy Birthday’.

The Santa Marta Dispensary has provided medical assistance to children and families in need for over 90 years, and is based just a stone’s throw away from the Pope’s residence inside the Vatican. It was established in 1922 by Pope Pius XI.

Birthday cake for Pope Francis

Preparing our hearts for Christmas

In brief remarks, Pope Francis thanked those present for their birthday wishes.

He also urged everyone to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus as Christians celebrate His birth at Christmas.

“We need to prepare ourselves for the great feast of Christmas, which will be next week,” he said. “It is the feast when we think and recall when Jesus came among us. He came to be with us.”

The

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Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com

The circus – doing business as the Ohio General Assembly – left the Statehouse last week, aiming to stay home until sometime in 2024. Given that Ohio’s primary election will he held March 19 – two-and-a-half months into the New Year – don’t expect Capitol Square boat-rocking before then.

Many if not most contests for (gerrymandered) state Senate and Ohio House of Representatives seats are filled in the primary. The last things any incumbent General Assembly member wants just before a primary election are tough Statehouse votes on controversial statewide issues.

Christmas-tree decorated bags were lined up on a table at the side of the Restore medical marijuana dispensary in Yeadon as vehicles drove up.

Along Church Lane, Joe Chiaverini, the dispensary’s assistant manager, donned a turkey costume and a sign reading, “Free Turkey & Canned Goods,” joining 20 other volunteers distributing 250 bags of food to the Yeadon community as a show of goodwill.

Joe Chiaverini, assistant manager of the Restore dispensary in Yeadon, dons a turkey costume to draw community members Saturday for the free holiday food bag distribution. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)

And, it wasn’t event the first year they’ve done it. This year was year three.

“We started it three years ago,” Robert Stanley, chief operating officer of Restore Dispensaries, said. “This is the third year that we’re doing it … We did it three months before we even opened.”

The Restore dispensary at 735 Church Lane opened on Feb. 14, 2021, in a former Citizens Bank next to a municipal parking lot where the holiday food distribution was in full swing Saturday.

“(At) Restore, we definitely believe in giving back to the community and helping out,” Stanely said. “That’s why we do it. … This

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Christmas-tree decorated bags were lined up on a table at the side of the Restore medical marijuana dispensary in Yeadon as vehicles drove up.

Along Church Lane, Joe Chiaverini, the dispensary’s assistant manager, donned a turkey costume and a sign reading, “Free Turkey & Canned Goods,” joining 20 other volunteers distributing 250 bags of food to the Yeadon community as a show of goodwill.

Joe Chiaverini, assistant manager of the Restore dispensary in Yeadon, dons a turkey costume to draw community members Saturday for the free holiday food bag distribution. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)

And, it wasn’t event the first year they’ve done it. This year was year three.

“We started it three years ago,” Robert Stanley, chief operating officer of Restore Dispensaries, said. “This is the third year that we’re doing it … We did it three months before we even opened.”

The Restore dispensary at 735 Church Lane opened on Feb. 14, 2021, in a former Citizens Bank next to a municipal parking lot where the holiday food distribution was in full swing Saturday.

“(At) Restore, we definitely believe in giving back to the community and helping out,” Stanely said. “That’s why we do it. … This

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul this week announced a dozen more adult-use cannabis dispensaries will open in New York state by the end of 2023, bringing the state’s total to at least 37 operating dispensaries.

“These new dispensaries continue our mission of strengthening our legal market while at the same time helping to push out the bad actors who skirt our laws and undermine all we are trying to accomplish,” the governor said.

Among the state’s dispensaries, eight are majority Black owned, five are Hispanic owned, and nine are women owned. According to the state, less than 0.2% of all national dispensaries are Black owned, while in New York, over 20% of adult-use dispensaries are majority Black owned.

RECENT AND UPCOMING OPENINGS

The Bronx:

Hush – 2460 Williamsbridge Road Fl 1, Bronx 10469

Brooklyn:

Grow Together – 2370 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn 11223 (opening Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023)

Manhattan:

Dagmar Cannabis – 412 W Broadway, NY 10012THC Herbal Care – 1412 Lexington Ave., New York 10128, (tentative opening on Jan. 4, 2024)

North Country:

The Highest Peak – Village of Potsdam, 5 Market St., Potsdam 13676The Firehaus – 7479 US Highway 11, Potsdam 13676

Capital Region:

420 Bliss – 740 Hoosick St., Brunswick 12180Capital District Wellness – 997 Central Ave Suite

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WILLMAR — The Willmar City Council will consider a recommendation from the Willmar Police Department at the Dec. 18 council meeting to revoke the THC license from High Cake Recreational Dispensary after the business failed multiple compliance checks and continues to sell illegal products.

The business could also be facing fines for violating the terms of its license.

The city council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 in the board chambers of the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services building.

High Cakes, located at 1709 1st Street South in Willmar, has reportedly been selling products that are not in compliance with the city’s THC ordinance or state law. This includes products with high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, as well as leaf/bud marijuana, according to the city council action request form. The form says city staff have tried working with the business owner without success.

The council will also be acting on approving and renewing the THC licenses for several other businesses in Willmar.

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The council will also continue the discussion regarding the new name for the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development

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Photos by William Klayer 
A quick note via the EVG tipline… law enforcement officials were spotted inside the Recreational Plus Cannabis Dispensary on the SE corner of First Avenue and 11th Street. 
A Restraining Order is also posted on the front window here at 180 First Ave. (FYI: This building is also for sale.) 
From the street, the shop appears to be empty. (The business’ Yelp page notes, “Recreational Plus East Village is temporarily closed. Scheduled to reopen on January 1, 2024.”) 
The signage arrived for it back in October… it was later removed, though the shop remained in operation.
This happens to be one block north of Go Green Dispensary, where on Tuesday, local elected officials came together, spoke out against unlicensed cannabis shops in Lower Manhattan, and called on landlords to stop renting to these businesses.
Like Go Green Dispensary, this operation is close to multiple schools (East Side Community School and PS 19 East Village Community School) and the mosque on the NE corner of 11th Street and First Avenue.

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“And I wish you a merry Christmas, a merry Christmas to all of you! Always with a smile, and may the Lord give you everything you want,” he added.

Pope Francis celebrates his birthday Dec. 17, 2023, with children and families who are assisted by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary. Credit: Vatican Media

It has been the custom of the Argentine pontiff since becoming pope in 2013 to eschew more formal celebrations on his birthday and instead spend time with Rome’s poor and underprivileged.

In 2016, for his 80th birthday, Pope Francis had breakfast with homeless people from around the Vatican at his residence of Casa Santa Marta. In 2017 he held a pizza party for sick children in the Paul VI Audience Hall. On the occasion of his 86th birthday last year, the pope presented an award to three individuals for their charitable work.

Pope Francis receives a hug on his birthday Dec. 17, 2023. The pope in the morning met with children and families who are assisted by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary. Credit: Vatican News

The Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary, which provides medical aid to poor families and mothers, was established in 1922 by Pope

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