Celebrity grower Jim Belushi is set to make his mark in New Jersey’s burgeoning cannabis market, promoting his production deal with High Grass Farms at various dispensaries across South Jersey. Belushi will visit ReLeaf in Williamstown, High Rollers in Atlantic City, the Frosted Nug in Penns Grove, and Jersey Joint in Glassboro. Notably, he will be joined at one of the locations by the South Jersey Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the significance of his tour.
High Grass Farms, a locally owned cannabis brand, renewed its license with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission earlier this month, positioning itself for future growth. The company recently secured a substantial 48,000-square-foot facility in Buena, South Jersey, indicating its readiness to expand operations and product offerings.
Belushi plans to introduce three new cannabis brands to the state: Belushi’s Farm, The Blues Brothers, and Big Sur Holy Weed. Under the Belushi’s Farm label, he is set to release several unique cultivar strains, including Pink Certz, Mule Fuel, and Apple Tart, along with a range of vapes, concentrates, and brick hash products.
The iconic Blues Brothers brand resonates deeply with Belushi, as it pays homage to the classic film featuring his late brother, John Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd. The band originated on “Saturday Night Live” and gained substantial popularity on tour. Reflecting on his brother’s struggles, Jim expressed a poignant wish that John had opted for cannabis instead of the substances that led to his tragic overdose in the 1980s.
In a nod to his background in the cannabis industry, Jim previously hosted the show “Growing Belushi,” which aired on Discovery Channel and is now available for streaming on HBO Max. The series showcased his experiences managing a legal cannabis farm in Oregon, illustrating both the challenges and lessons learned during the cultivation process, including the practice of playing music for plants.
Belushi is not the first celebrity to enter New Jersey’s cannabis scene, where celebrity brands are met with mixed reactions from the community. Other notable figures include Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan and radio host Charlamagne tha God, who opened the Hashstoria dispensary in Newark, though it closed within ten months. Berner, founder of Cookies, has been active in the state, promoting his products and establishing a dispensary in Harrison in August 2023. Ice-T co-owns the Medicine Woman dispensary in Jersey City, while former NBA star Al Harrington has launched Village dispensary in Hoboken. Wrestler Ric Flair has also partnered with a multi-state operator and made several appearances to promote cannabis products.
As the New Jersey cannabis market continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Belushi’s venture and the broader trend of celebrity brands will be embraced by consumers looking for authentic and quality products.
