by Cathy Miller

Not long ago, three forward thinkers joined forces in what has been coined “the cannabis space.” Forming a business partnership cemented by epic determination were Washington resident, Chris Caruso, CEO, Founder & Managing Partner; Sonia Mangalick, CFO & Managing Partner; and Deborah Snow, COO & Managing Partner. Their Washington Borough-based shop, an adult-use microbusiness dispensary slated for an October 1 opening, is known as Dank Poet Dispensary. Drawing from his creative writing background, Chris anointed, in poetic patois, Dank Poet’s customers as “authors” and their budtenders as “muses.”

Chris said, “I’ve always been interested in the cannabis space. I lived in Colorado when they went from medical, to include recreational marijuana. Recognizing the good it can do for both community and state, I wanted to get involved.” Spending nearly a decade in Idaho for graduate school and teaching, the Jersey native often visited Oregon and Washington state, both legal markets. Ideas began churning in his head. He recalled, “It wasn’t until I learned Jersey was going to go recreational that I realized this was my best chance to get started. I moved back to Jersey around five years ago and began laying the groundwork. The past three or four years have been spent actually building on it. I first approached the Borough Council when the law was signed in 2020.”

The journey of Dank Poet Dispensary was frequently challenging, frustrating, and bank-breaking. Chris shared, “Before I had my partners, I actually considered packing it in. It was a daunting amount of work for one person, not just the financial cost, but the time and the mental costs, and the sheer exhaustion. Because it’s legal on the state level, but federally illegal, a lot of resources other small businesses could access didn’t exist for me. I wondered if I’d become a fry cook and live in my mom’s basement at 50. I was very lucky to find my two partners. Without them Dank Poet might not have reached this point.”

Even though they’re opening their own dispensary, there’s still an ingrained apprehension shared by Deborah and Sonia – is this really real? is it ok? Cannabis has been illegal for so long, it’s hard to shake the feeling.

Chris offered a different angle. “It’s long overdue,” he stated. “Between cannabis, cigarettes, and alcohol, cannabis is probably the safest and best substance for people that want to experience medical benefits or the recreational effects of getting high. If there’s an opportunity to buy something that’s been tested, regulated and proven safe, why not go that route instead of buying something that’s been in a guy’s shoe for 16 hours riding an airplane from California. It’s time for change – not just on a state level, but federal too. It’s time to remove the stigma.”

Entering Dank Poet Dispensary for the first time people will have questions. Deborah clarified, “We’re going to educate them. A lot of our store will be geared towards sharing knowledge, helping people understand the product and its benefits. A critical part of what they will learn is how to use cannabis responsibly and safely.”

Dank Poet Dispensary is recreational only, however they’ll welcome medical patients age 21 and over. Chris explained, “We’ll have the same products medical patients are accustomed to, as well as alternate products, and we’ll make recommendations based on the traits of those products.”

Sonia suggested, “Shop for what you need. Talk to your muse. If you’re having trouble sleeping, ask for suggestions. If an author talks with one of our muses for 40 minutes, that’s time well spent.”

Essentially there are three types of cannabis plant: Sativa (for energy and creativity), Indica (for relaxation, sleep, aches and pains), and Hybrids (a cross of Indica and Sativa, providing varying combinations of both). Research suggests it isn’t so much the strain of the plant, but more the terpene component that determines its medical and recreational effects. Different terpenes enhance the different effects and flavors – sleepy, focused, energized, etc. Dank Poet muses will be fully trained to help the authors understand these variables, assuring them a better experience.

The dispensary is only allowed to use state-approved cultivators and manufacturers for their THC products, and have already set up contracts with a majority of these entities.

In describing Dank Poet Dispensary, Chris detailed, “Most importantly, one must be 21 years of age or older to enter. We check ID twice during each author’s visit. The first is in our lobby before you step onto the sales floor, and the second time is when you speak with your muse.”

The expansive public area will include the lobby and the sales floor, comprised of a few specific areas.

An educational bar, videos, and reading materials form an education section. Shelves of non-THC products will boast clothing, more informational materials, and cannabis-related items (like board games). Lighters, grinders, rolling papers, water pipes, and cleaning supplies for tools will also be available.

Customers will find cannabis to smoke, edibles, tinctures, topicals, pills and tablets, even strips (think Listerine strips).

The well-lit rear parking lot holds 50 to 60 cars. Even if the lot is full, ample room inside the store guarantees there will be no “cattle-herding” at Dank Poet!

“Bettering the community and benefiting the town” could be a mantra for Dank Poet Dispensary.

Chris is certain that Dank Poet Dispensary will be a great addition to Washington. They’re already building relationships with the local businesses. They plan to host several different community events offsite such as free art classes at M Galleries and reading showcases at The Laughing Goat. They hope to establish three Little Libraries in town to encourage reading, literacy and education, with the first one planned for outside M Galleries.

“Our intention is to make Washington a destination again, like it was in the 1960s,” Chris explained, “where people will linger, shop, eat and explore.”

Having witnessed the rebirth of towns in Colorado that brought in recreational cannabis, he noted, “A rising tide lifts all boats. I want to see small business owners surviving and their businesses thriving. I want to see entrepreneurs setting up shop in Washington because they believe in their business, just like we believe in ours.”

Dank Poet is located on East Washington Avenue between The Meat Shoppe and the Exxon station. The former site of a tire store is undergoing a remarkable renovation and people are paying attention.

With a projected opening of October 1, Dank Poet Dispensary is full-time for Chris, Deborah, and Sonia, who proclaimed, “This is what we do. This is our commitment. This is our future.”

Dank Poet Dispensary
245 E. Washington Avenue, Washington, NJ
T: 908-450-9900 w: DankPoet.com