Atlantic City’s first wave of legal cannabis consumption lounges is finally here, and ownership reveals who is benefiting from New Jersey’s equity ambitions. On July 15, 2025, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) endorsed four on-site consumption areas statewide—two in Atlantic City: High Rollers Dispensary at Claridge Hotel and SunnyTien on Atlantic Avenue, for tourists and locals. The CRC highlighted that all four endorsements went to “Diversely Owned Businesses,” a designation for minority-, women-, or disabled-veteran-owned operators under state certification.
High Rollers Dispensary’s equity story begins with its majority owners, Andrew and Denise Kirkland. A CRC conditional-license decision lists Andrew Kirkland as the applicant of record for High Rollers Dispensary LLC; subsequent reporting has detailed the Kirkland family’s 51% stake and role in steering the project. Jon Cohn, a Pennsylvania cannabis entrepreneur associated with Agri-Kind, has also been identified as a co-owner and investor overseeing the Claridge build-out.
SunnyTien’s ownership is led by women operators. CRC correspondence names Nhi Luu as the licensee of record for the Class 5 retailer at 3004 Atlantic Avenue, and trade and professional posts have consistently identified Luu and partner Zhi Tan as the principals behind the brand. By December 2024, SunnyTien said its lounge build-out was roughly ninety percent complete while it waited for the state to open the application gate; that hurdle cleared when the CRC endorsed its consumption area in July 2025, alongside High Rollers.
That equity context didn’t arrive overnight. Throughout 2023 and 2024, operators designed lounges, negotiated leases, and absorbed carrying costs as rules were finalized. The Philadelphia Inquirer documented the lull and near-finished rooms; owners called the delay “radio silence” until a timeline emerged. When approvals landed, coverage noted that two of New Jersey’s first four lounges were in Atlantic City—a symbolic win for a city courting cannabis tourism.
What the endorsements do—and don’t—do: they formally permit the retailers to build and run consumption areas, but doors can’t open until each site clears a final inspection and demonstrates compliant ventilation and operations. That sequence, the CRC notes, centers safety and responsible use.
For dispensaries, the ownership picture matters because who controls the lounge often controls the incremental revenue. In a crowded market, on-premise experiences can drive larger baskets, longer dwell time, and programmed events that build loyalty. High Rollers can lean on Claridge foot traffic and tourist visibility, while SunnyTien’s women-led team has telegraphed plans for supervised, alcohol-free social spaces. News coverage shows the first Atlantic City lounges are open and drawing interest from visitors seeking legal, staffed environments to consume.
The bottom line: two Atlantic City dispensaries now hold state endorsements to operate consumption lounges—High Rollers and SunnyTien—and both are led by equity-qualified owners. High Rollers’ majority is held by the Kirkland family, with Jon Cohn’s group investing and developing at the Claridge. SunnyTien is led by owner Nhi Luu, with partner Zhi Tan, operating under a women-led banner. Together, those ownership profiles align with the CRC’s stated intent to broaden who benefits as cannabis hospitality takes root in Atlantic City.
Know before you go: New Jersey lounges are tightly regulated. No alcohol or tobacco products are permitted; consumers may only consume cannabis purchased at the host dispensary, and staff must enforce safe-use rules inside the room. Plan ahead by checking each retailer’s house rules and hours.