New Jersey Welcomes Black-Owned Cannabis Dispensary Lounge ‘Plant Base

This milestone marks the culmination of a five-year journey led by co-founders Prince Abidoye and Kevon Carter, alongside ownership team members Alishea Kelly, Yves Thony, and Arthur Byrd. Their collective effort reflects years of dedication, collaboration, and a shared vision to build a business rooted in purpose and community impact.

“This moment is truly a blessing and a testament to seven years of hard work,” Carter tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Prince and I have faced every obstacle imaginable, yet we stayed committed—and we’re proud to stand among the less than 2% of Black owners in this global industry.”

Over the past five years, the team has worked tirelessly to navigate complex regulations, forge strategic partnerships, and create a welcoming space that is rooted in wellness, creativity, and inclusion. Their journey was far from easy as they tackled paying rent on the property for three years while caught in licensing delays, facing predatory practices from a general contractor, dealing with setbacks from an architect group, and enduring poor communication at the municipal level that stretched the local licensing process to 25 months, even after securing their state license on June 1, 2023.

Rather than giving up, Carter and Abidoye doubled down, taking on tasks themselves, raising additional capital, and keeping their vision alive. When we last spoke with them, the founders were actively seeking investors to help realize their goal of revolutionizing the industry and becoming the first Black men to achieve this milestone independently.

From the start, they envisioned Plant Base as more than a dispensary. Today, it stands out as one of the few licensed retailers in New Jersey with a dedicated community space designed to foster wellness, education, and connection.

Plant Base, located at 148-58 E 2nd St, Retail Unit 101, is open daily and offers a wide range of cannabis products, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and concentrates.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANT BASE DISPENSARY HERE