Recreational marijuana is expected to be a multi-million-dollar industry in New Jersey; Newark hosts a seminar to help minorities get involved

With New Jersey moving closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, a Newark group held a forum Tuesday aimed at helping minority entrepreneurs get in on what’s expected to be a multi-million-dollar business.

Sponsored by the New Jersey Minority Alliance, the seminar featured Virgil Grant, an established marijuana businessman from California, who provided strategies for dealing with the intense competition that’s expected.

“This is not a mom-and-pop shop anymore. We’re done from that. I need you to understand and to start thinking about how a corporation is set up,” Grant said.

Sponsors of the seminar included the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation. “I’m hoping that a lot of Newarkers get informed,” said Juliana Blackburn, chairwoman of the corporation. “They become engaged and will become inspired to become involved in an industry that’s going to be huge.”

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