Jersey, she’s here! đź’š Precious, generous pre-rolls, crafted in partnership with Victory Natural Farm, just dropped at Pure Blossom dispensary in Pennington. We caught up with the powerhouse two-person team behind the brand: founder and East Orange’s favorite pre-roll queen, Precious Osagie-Erese, and Princeton native and head of marketing, Cami McNeely, to talk about their inspiring journey to becoming New Jersey’s first Black woman-owned pre-roll brand.
From Newsrooms to New Highs
“The first time I consumed cannabis, I was just being a curious cat…then I really started to study cannabis in terms of effects and how to safely and consciously use it,” Precious shares.
That curiosity followed her all the way through earning a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University and her M.S. from Columbia Journalism School. “A lot of my time in journalism school was spent learning more about the political and socioeconomic impacts of the war on drugs, specifically on Black and brown communities,” she explains. She put those skills to work as a Producer for News 12 in New Jersey and Connecticut, then as Digital Media Producer for the City of East Orange.
“I’m really grateful for my journalism background. It helped me become a really skilled writer and a really skilled speaker,” Precious says. And that’s exactly why her best friend, Tiyahnn Bryant, ask her to help co-found Roll-Up Life Inc, New Jersey’s first Black-owned legacy cannabis delivery in their hometown in East Orange.
Turning No Into Yes
”The largest hurdle I had to overcome was being told no.” -Precious
After seeking adult-use cannabis license for Roll-Up Life Inc, a delivery service and dispensary, their application was denied municipal approval in 2023.
“In cannabis specifically, it felt like such a big no and big blow, because building a cannabis business takes a lot,” Precious recalls. “When you’re at the final step (after submitting all the applications, raising money and supporting your community) and you need a yes to launch a dispensary and delivery service in your hometown, not getting that yes definitely made me want to stop.”
But Precious didn’t stop. She pivoted.
“I tell everybody, don’t let that stop you in your tracks because without that, no, I don’t think there would be a Precious brand,” she reflects.
A Brand That Looks Like Her
Before Precious pre-rolls existed, Precious would walk in dispensaries and be disappointed in the selection. Nothing matched her energy. She couldn’t find woman-owned brands or Black-owned brands, and honestly, she wasn’t even sure they even existed.
Choosing the product was a no-brainer. “[My favorite way to consume is] absolutely a pre-roll. I used to break it down, roll it up, everything, but see these nails,” she laughs, showing off a fresh set. “That’s why I love a good pre-roll. I love being able to just easily pull one out, light it up.”
Precious is a self-funded brand, crafted with care and no shortcuts. “We built our brand to reflect “drop culture”…When we are not in stores, we take that as intentional time needed to figure it out and create the best products. Not just ones we would be proud of, but ones our New Jersey community would stand by and be proud of as well,” Precious explains.
Their standard is simple: “We wouldn’t give you something we haven’t smoked,” she adds.
Meet Cami
“Cannabis has always been something that’s really helped me keep it all together,” explained Cami.
Cami’s first got her start in cannabis in New York where she was Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Communications at AYR Wellness and helped launch the Mudd Brothers brand. From that experience, she realized she’d found her calling and decided to go full-time. Ever since, she’s been working under her own LLC, Lionsbloom, supporting minority-owned and women-owned brands.
“It’s a huge honor to be able to work with this brand. It is the first Black woman-owned pre-roll brand in New Jersey. It’s near and dear to my heart and to be able to support someone like Precious too, who is super inspiring in this space. I’ve learned a lot in this journey, and I’m really excited to see all the future that’s to come for this brand,” said Cami.
Fighting the Stigma with Design
“When people realized I consumed cannabis, it felt like they thought I was two different people. I really wanted my brand to bring those two together — to show that you can enjoy luxury experiences, and still enjoy the plant without feeling awkward or like you have to hide it,” says Precious.
We’re firm believers that design is one of the strongest ways to normalize cannabis use. Well-designed brands like Precious are helping open that door, making the space feel more inclusive and reflective of the people who consume.
“I really wanted to create something that immediately didn’t look like cannabis and something for everybody,” says Precious. “You can leave them on your bookshelf and they can even be a conversation starter.”
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
Precious comes in Pluto (relax), Prime (balance) and Peak (elevate), three experience-driven blends crafted for the modern consumer if they want to be up, down or right in the middle.
Not sure where to begin “I encourage people to f*ck around and find out. When you do, you can make better decisions about the types of cannabis products you choose,” said Precious.
If you are used to chasing THC percentages, Precious is a lower THC brand by design. “I love keeping my products between 21 and 24% THC…If you want to be like super stoned with 30%+ THC. Unfortunately, that’s not my brand, but if you ever wanted to come down and try it, we’re here,” says Precious.
We get it. It is easy to look at the label and assume the highest THC percentage means the best experience. But chasing THC percentage can set you up for a ride you did not actually want. We encourage you to look at terpenes, the flavors and aromas that guide the actual experience.
Precious’ Fave: Pluto
“Pluto (our indica-leaning hybrid) has always been a favorite because after a long day with a million thoughts running at once, it helps you step back a bit.
I actually didn’t used to love indicas because they made me too sluggish, but when I discovered blends that still give you a boost, Pluto became my favorite after-work snack. It’s a great way to start the wind down and get your evening together while still having a high level of functionality. Pluto can also be great if you’re having a super chill night out with friends. It reminds me of a time I had some Pluto before and we were just floating around New York,” Precious shares.
Precious x Pure Blossom
From day one, Precious has been intentional about where they show up. They choose partners who care about equity, representation and thoughtful cannabis experiences. We are honored to be exclusive Pennington dispensary carrying Precious and bringing NJ’s first Black woman-owned pre-roll brand to Central NJ. As a woman-owned dispensary, we believe there’s always room at the table and we’re grateful to be part of it.
Stay tuned for more exciting collabs!
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Pure Blossom is a woman-owned and -operated, licensed dispensary. Founded on the values of education, destigmatization and community, Pure Blossom is creating a truly welcoming cannabis retail experience with a curated menu of New Jersey’s worthy cannabis products, an emphasis on increasing customer knowledge and a holistic approach to wellbeing.
Whether you’re doing the old Google thing, searching for a dispensary near me or nearby dispensaries in New Jersey, Pure Blossom is a short, scenic, calming drive away, and our friendly guide-connoisseurs are excited to take you through the best Jersey-Grown greens (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!
