The SOMA Boss Ladies of Cannabis Jill Cohen of South Orange and Wadeeha Jackson of Maplewood represent the pioneering spirit of the cannabis retail scene, helping other women- and Black-owned businesses make their way in the industry. written by Mary Barr Mann March 26, 2025
The Village Green of Maplewood & South Orange
Jill Cohen and Wadeeha Jackson are pioneers.
Not only have they each started their own businesses, they have started businesses in cannabis, blazing a trail in a highly regulated but new and relatively uncharted world — and, in the process, shaping that world for other entrepreneurs, many of whom are also starting their own women- and/or Black-owned operations.
Partnering with fellow female entrepreneurs is a priority for Cohen, who founded CannaBossLady Boutique in Maplewood Village in February 2021 as a women-owned CBD shop, and expanded in 2023 with Elevated by The CannaBoss Lady Dispensary. She’s now branching out further with her own line of Sexy, Chic & Dope Preroll variety packs — which will be delivered by Jackson’s Directleaf service to customers’ doors within a 10-mile radius of the dispensary.
“I’m the first independently woman-owned cannabis dispensary owner to release a branded preroll variety pack!” said Cohen.
And Cohen is excited to have Directleaf delivering.
“Wadeeha was one of my first customers and we started to get to know each other and then, I think maybe after a year, she said, ‘I’m kind of thinking about getting in the cannabis business. Would you counsel me? Would you mentor me?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely!'”
Cohen then introduced Jackson to all her “people” — consultants and a lawyer to “guide her through the whole journey of it.”
With Cohen’s aid and her own expertise coming from an extensive banking and financial compliance career, Jackson became the first Black woman to obtain a delivery license in the state.
CannaBoss Lady • 1st Anniversary • Partners with DirectLeaf Delivery
https://headynj.com/dispensary/elevated-by-canna-boss-lady-dispensary-celebrates-1st-anniversary-partners-with-directleaf-delivery-company/
Jill Cohen Tours the Dispensary with PIX11's Ben Aaron
Elevated by the CannaBoss Lady Dispensary founder and CEO (and Boss Lady), Jill Cohen, gives PIX11's Ben Aaron a tour of the new Maplewood dispensary.
Women to Watch 2024
Elevated by The CannaBoss Lady founder, Jill Cohen, named among Montclair Girl's 'Women to Watch' 2024 lineup.
Here's the blurb:
South Orange resident Jill Cohen started her career in the advertising industry as a sales and experiential events specialist. Even as she climbed the corporate ladder, her true passion was always been cannabis health and wellness. After managing her mental and physical health with cannabis, Jill became a certified CBD consultant. She then openedThe CannaBoss Lady, in Maplewood Village — the first women-owned cannabis storefront in the area. The shop sells high-quality CBD, edibles, wellness, skincare, intimacy, spirituality, and beauty products. Fast forward to 2023, Jill went on to open Elevated by TheCannaBossLady Dispensary, located at Highland Place, Suite 1 in Maplewood. She shared, “I am passionate about the transformative power of cannabis and set out to offer a refined, luxurious environment for a 5-star experience.”
Jill’s favorite local spots: “Luna Stella Restaurant, Perch Home, Kimaya Kama, St James Gate, Cactus Charly, Coda, Meus, Luxe45, Victory Salon, and Garubo Salon.”
NJ Morning Show x CannaBoss Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJetHpS_pJE
Our founder, Jill Cohen, stopped by the NJ Morning Show on ONNJ to talk about our new dispensary.
Reliving Our Grand Opening (Photos)
Elevated by the CannaBoss Lady Dispensary celebrated its grand opening on October 21, 2023 with a town-wide block party. The afternoon Halloween block party kicked off with remarks from Jill Cohen, The CannaBoss Lady herself, and a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony—with Mayor Dean Dafis—to commemorate being Maplewood Village Alliance’s first women-owned dispensary to open in the close-knit suburban community. Explore some of the moments in photos here and on our Instagram.
Some New Jersey Cannabis Dispensaries to Share $12M in State Grants
Nearly 40 New Jersey cannabis dispensaries will share $12 million in state joint venture grants from the state Economic Development Authority, PIX 11 reports. The grants are geared toward diverse representatives of communities most affected by the war on drugs.
In an interview with PIX 11, Francesca DeRogatis, co-founder and COO of Nightjar which will receive a $250,000 grant, described the program as “really life changing.”
“We can market the business better, so we have the budget now to engage in marketing tactics that we weren’t able to do before. We’ll also be able to hire employees.” — DeRogatis to PIX 11
Jill Cohen, founding owner of Elevated by The Cannaboss Lady Dispensary, said the funds will help her “recoup a lot of those startup costs” which she described as “crippling.”
“You need that working capital to now buy supply and keep payroll going,” she told PIX 11.
The state had initially offered the grants to 24 businesses, but Gov. Phil Murphy (D) opened the program up to 48 businesses.
Tai Cooper, with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, told PIX 11 that the agency had received about 160 applications within the first hour or so of officials opening the application process on April 20.
NJ.com interviews first women-owned weed boutique in Essex County
By• Gabby Warren | NJ Advance Media
for NJ.com
Jill Cohen, also known as TheCannaboss Lady, has opened the first woman-owned weed bou@que to Essex
County.
Elevated by the Cannaboss Lady, the brand’s new legal weed concept, is now open at 9 Highland Place. Suite #1 in Maplewood, in the same building as its award-winning CBD shop. The interior of the shop gives a 1960s
salon vibe with its pink-and-green color
scheme, vintage furniture and chevron
wallpaper. The wai@ng area, featuring a
rota@ng art exhibit, is where guests can
learn about the products that are
available for purchase and how to use
them.
The interior of the shop gives a 1960s
salon vibe with its pink-and-green color
scheme, vintage furniture and chevron
wallpaper.
The living room style sales floor is not
built for large crowds and long lines —
it’s meant to give each customer a
unique one-on-one cannabis
experience.
“I am passionate about the transformative power of cannabis and
set out to offer a refined, luxurious
environment for a 5-star experience,”
said Cohen, whose store was
recognized at the NJ Cannabis Insider
2023 Awards as the CBD Shop of the Year.
“I brought together a team of
budtenders who will guide you on a wellness journey, reducing anxiety and pain while bringing
happiness and healing,” she said. “I hope my customers feel a higher level of wellness every
@me they visit the CannaBoss Lady!”
Open from 10 a.m-8 p.m., Elevated by The Cannaboss Lady in Maplewood is located at 9
Highland Pl. Suite #1.Open from 10 a.m-8 p.m., this shop — and its CBD counterpart — offer a
wide range of products and educa@onal resources, including high quality CBD, edibles, wellness,
skin care, in@macy, spirituality and beauty products to cul@vate a modern cannabis lifestyle.
Elevated carries a variety of strains and flavors from brands such as Verano, Ozone, The
Botanist, Miss Grass, Simply Herb, Savvy and Airo. Accessories include vase-like bongs, crystal
pipes, sheets and cones from brands like Juicy Jay, Raw, Elements and Blazy Susan.
The grand opening celebra@on is tenta@vely set for Saturday, Oct. 21 from 4:20 to 8 p.m.
For more informa@on, visit their website or call (917) 416-5455 and follow on
Instagram @TheCannaBossLady @BossLadyElevated. pic mural
CannaBoss Lady Wins 'CBD Shop of the Year'
New Jersey Cannabis Inside Awards has named Elevated by the CannaBoss Lady in Maplewood, NJ the 'CBD Shop if the Year' (2023). Read the article »
Photos from the evening's events:
