The Cannabist Co., which pioneered the sale of adult use cannabis in many markets nationwide, will be closing its two “grow houses” in Vineland as part of a wider bankruptcy protection legal case, according to media sources.
It plans to close two cannabis cultivation sites in Vineland on October 11 and sell its three South Jersey dispensaries, which includes Vineland’s, cutting 86 jobs as part of a broader retreat from the U.S. market.
At one time, Cannabist Co., formerly known as Columbia Care, was the nation’s leader in locations and marijuana sales. In Vineland, it began medical cannabis sales in 2020 and added adult use sales two years later.
The now-bankrupt Canadian company was one of only three operators licensed to dispense in the southern region of New Jersey at the time and, when it opened, was the first medical cannabis dispensary in New Jersey.
The company cited “company financial issues” in a notice filed with the state and in federal court in Delaware, reporting net losses of $105.1 million in 2024 and $124.2 million in the first nine months of 2025.
The company pointed out the difficulties in accessing banking and capital markets because of marijuana being a controlled substance under federal law and, thus, generally illegal. The dispensary located at 1062 N Delsea Drive and the grow operations scheduled for closure are located at 17 West Park Avenue and 1560 N. West Boulevard.
South Jersey is Cannabist’s only presence in New Jersey, and the market generated $43.5 million in revenue last year, nearly 16 percent of the company’s total, according to media releases.
Sales of Cannabist’s operations in Ohio and Delaware are pending, its Virginia sale has already closed, and it previously exited Pennsylvania and New York. The firm also plans to sell operations in Illinois, Massachusetts, and West Virginia.
