“We grew up using cannabis and always dreamed of growing it. We’re part of a generation where that dream coexisted with legalization, and we’re grateful to work in an industry we dreamed of that didn’t really exist 10 or 15 years ago,” said Dylan McCollough, Assistant Grow Manager.
We had the absolute honor of sitting down with some of Breakwater’s management and grow team: Kevin Wilson, Dylan McCollough, John Bunting, Anthony LoRe and Cliff Taylor. And it didn’t take more than five minutes for us understand why Breakwater has the reputation it does. This team genuinely loves what they do. They don’t cut corners. They don’t release anything they’re not proud of. And some of them have been here since day one.
Breakwater at Pure Blossom
If Breakwater is new to you, here’s the quick catch-up. Breakwater is one of New Jersey’s most established and respected cannabis vertical operators. They opened in 2015 as opened in 2015 as one of the six original alternative treatment centers, is the only remaining independent operator from that group. They’ve built their reputation the slow, deliberate way through in-house cultivation and a firm belief that if something isn’t right, it doesn’t go out.
That same intention is exactly why they waited three years after recreational legalization to expand into adult-use in 2025. “We kept asking ourselves how this would impact our patients. That was the question we kept coming back to because that’s our foundation and what got us here. We didn’t want to do them a disservice by rushing in and not doing it the right way. We also had to ask if we could still provide the same quality of product and service when entering adult-use,” explained Cliff.
When Breakwater finally made it to Pure Blossom, it honestly felt a little surreal. We’ve wanted to work with them since Pure Blossom was only an idea, and now we’re able to offer products people once had to travel out of state for or keep their medical cards to access. On top of that, Breakwater is very selective about its partners, and we’re proud to meet their standards.
”Patient experience and education are a big one for us. We want to partner with dispensaries that take the plant seriously, they respect the product and are going to do a good job talking not only about our product, but really the plant in general, with their customers,” explains Cliff.
You can now find Breakwater at Pure Blossom, Pennington’s only dispensary.
The Buds Behind the Plant
The OG
As Director of Production, Kevin Wilson has done it all. “I’ve been here since the beginning of the company and I love Breakwater and the people here. And I think we cultivate some of the best cannabis,” says Kevin.
Favorite way to consume: Flower. Out of a Sherlock.
The Generous Pre-Roller
“My dad is a patient here, so is my mom, my wife, and I am too. We all consume and I take pride in the work and effort everyone puts in at Breakwater. Knowing it’s a clean, healthy product, I’m glad to give it to my family,” Dylan McCollough, Assistant Grow Manager.
Being part of the Breakwater family for over six years, Dylan has loved every year. “We love our jobs. We love and are obsessed with this plant. It’s a very fun and dream job and I hope that translates to the product,” says Dylan.
Favorite way to consume: Dylan says, “A Joint. You really get the flavor the best way, and I’m not as frugal as I was in college, so I like to pass.”
The Cranbury Pheno Hunter
”I’m our first line of defense in the pheno hunting process and I’m ruthless. By the time something makes it to the rest of the team we have culled out all of the weak non expressive genetics so hopefully there’s something good that everyone else also believes stands out.” -John Bunting, Grow Team Leader / Solventless Hash Lead
Ten years ago, this Cranbury native and hobbyist grower knew it was meant to be when Breakwater came to his hometown. Since then, he’s taken quite the journey at Breakwater. He started as the first health coach when the doors opened in 2015, then worked across the dispensary, trimming, building grow rooms, managing harvest, and even building the solventless lab.
His bread and butter is pheno hunting. Breakwater handles pheno hunting entirely in-house. Instead of bringing in outside clones, they start from seed to avoid pests, viruses and to build a menu that’s truly their own. Hundreds of plants may be grown and evaluated at a time, but on a few make it on the menu.
Curious how pheno hunting works? Learn more about the pheno hunting process.
For John, it’s simple. “We’re all patients. We’re all consumers. I want to be smoking and consuming the best stuff possible. Whatever I can do here to help make that happen, I do.”
Favorite way to consume: John enjoys hash rosin, specifically ice water hash. He explains, ”ice water hash is the pinnacle of concentrates.”
The Wedding Cake Loyalist
“When I was younger, I thought I’d have to move out West to work in cannabis and basically uproot my whole life. Then a buddy told me Breakwater was hiring trimmers, so I jumped on it. The rest is history,” said Anthony LoRe, Production Manager.
Anthony’s interest in cannabis started young after watching his father go through multiple back surgeries and heavy medication. When he realized cannabis helped, it sparked his curiosity about what else the plant could do. Over the past nine years at Breakwater, he worked his way up to Production Manager. “I wear many hats at Breakwater and am always happy to step in where needed. My main focus areas include the Harvest Department, Warehouse Department, Wholesale Delivery Operations, and Safety. As the Production Manager, I also work closely with the Trim and Packaging Managers to ensure they have the staffing, supplies, and support needed to meet production demand,” explains Anthony.
Favorite way to consume:
“I’m a flower guy. I enjoy the social aspect of it, passing it around, hanging out with friends and shooting the breeze.” -Anthony
Anthony keeps coming back to Moon Bow and Candy Fumes. For classics, his go-tos are Wedding Cake and Blue Cream.
Hopeful in Cannabis
- “I remember when we first started using credit cards to buy equipment, companies would deny purchases and say they wouldn’t work with a cannabis company. Three or four years later, those same companies are opening up. There have been immense changes around the perception of cannabis use, people can now consume in safe environments without feeling like they’re going to get arrested for something millions use every day. It’s also encouraging to watch coworkers grow over the years, build families, and do more than they thought they could or hoped to do. There’s been a ton of positive change.” – Kevin
- “You can’t drive down the street in New Jersey without seeing a dispensary. Having cannabis as accessible as coffee feels like a dream we used to joke about, getting gas and a joint, and now it’s becoming a reality. It’s very cool to live in this world. The future is exciting and the industry is just getting started.” -Dylan
- “What’s cool about working in this industry is the passion people bring. Everyone who works here really wants to be here and there are very few industries where you can say that.” – Cliff
One-On-One Seshes
Questions are always welcome at Pure Blossom. Our friendly and knowledgeable cannabis consultants are always happy to talk through products, experiences and anything you’re curious about when it comes to the plant. While we’re not medical professionals, we’re glad to share what we know and help point you toward the right next resource. You can always reach us at [email protected]
Breakwater also offers medical patients and recreational guests one-on-one in-person or virtual sessions with senior health coaches for guidance and education. These usually start with a quick conversation about your familiarity with cannabis, your goals and how you prefer to consume, then move into guidance tailored to you. You can schedule a Health Coach session here!
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Explore Pure Blossom’s curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands and essential accessories. 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 our curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!