Ginger Hale offers a ‘relaxed, inviting’ environment

The opening of Ginger Hale Dispensary was all but a straight path for Matt Hale.

In the military for 11 years, Hale wasn’t a cannabis user.

“We were not allowed,” Hale reminisced, noting he did dabble here and there as a youngster. “I left for the military when I was 21.”

After 13 years, Hale, a Collingswood High School graduate, moved back to the area in 2013.

“My wife, who is also from Collingswood, and I bought a house in Oaklyn,” he said. “At the time I was working in finance, I’m a CPA [certified public accountant] by trade.”

After working for various large companies, out of the blue came an opportunity that “shocked his wife.”

It was a director of finance position for Curaleaf Dispensary in Bellmawr, now a licensed medical and adult-use cannabis provider. There he learned a lot about the business and the benefits of cannabis.

“For me you couldn’t deny [the benefits],” Hale said. “It’s not cheap. People wouldn’t be spending money to do it if there was no positive benefit for them.”

While at Curaleaf, recreational cannabis use in New Jersey became legal and licensing opportunities started opening up. It was 2023. After Curaleaf, Hale took a job at Catelli Brothers in Collingswood.

However, the curiosity of potential licensing opportunities was there. Oaklyn Borough approved to offer letters of support to two retail licenses.

“At first, I was kind of like, let’s just see where it goes,” Hale said. “I had to come up with a business plan and it kept building and building until I finally had to make a call to the point where you’re either doing it or not.”

“So I decided to give it a shot. I left Catelli, signed the lease for the building and got the keys in May 2023.”

After the building fit-out and construction, they held a grand opening for Ginger Hale in July 2024, which opened in the former Wawa at 814 White Horse Pike, Suite C in Oaklyn.

“I got very lucky with this location because it lent itself perfectly to what we were trying to do with plenty of parking,” Hale said. “It’s bigger than we needed but makes for a great local spot to serve our direct community and more… it all kind of fell into place to be honest. I have a good rapport with the township, mayor, police … they’ve been super supportive with everything. I try to offer the same support back to them to tell them that we appreciate it.”

Open eight months now, Hale continues to focus on educating the public about the product. It is their number one goal.

“I learned a lot about the product in the past four to five years,” Hale said, relaying he understands the product is “still in the shadows” so to speak. “I see the benefits it provides for people.”

Ginger Hale provides a “laid back atmosphere.”

“A lot of the dispensaries have a ‘medical – very bright white – feel,’” Hale said. “I wanted to go away from that. That’s why we have a lot of greenery and woodwork to create a relaxed and inviting environment.

“A lot of people are anxious when they come to these places. They are either just getting back into the market, maybe haven’t consumed in a while, or maybe they never consumed.

“So, we try to make it comfortable, kind of like a barbershop feel. We want people to come talk to us. We’re here to answer questions. Education and experience are our top priorities. Most people don’t know a lot about the products. We’re not medical by any means, but we can explain effects, make suggestions and offerings and talk through things based on our experiences as individuals. My staff is extremely knowledgeable. They know the product well … better than I do.”

Walk into the greenery of Ginger Hale, walk up and talk with an associate, scroll through the live menu on the e-comm platform. Spend as much time as you need.

“A good proportion of our customers want the feedback and dialogue,” Hale said, relaying that Ginger Hale’s clientele come from “all walks of life” from their average consumer age of 45 to their oldest 89. “That’s what we try to provide. Just a comfortable, relaxing, no judgment place.”

Ginger Hale provides a diverse selection of products to cater to a wide range of preferences and needs from Cannabis Flower; Pre-rolls; Concentrates; and Vaporizers to Edibles – including gummies, even cookies (chocolate chip and oatmeal), brownies, chocolate; Tinctures; Topicals; Accessories and Merchandise.

“There’s so many different forms of cannabis now … the number one seller in our store is gummies,” Hale said. “It’s like a fruit snack essentially, and a lot of them are geared towards sleep. It’s one of the top issues that people are looking to solve.

“There’s plenty of people who don’t like the taste of weed itself … like hops, it’s in the same family. It has a very strong flavor to it. Some people don’t want that flavor, so [those customers gravitate to] any kind of food form.”

It really comes down to lifestyle and discretion level.

“There’s so many different options for consumption methods,” Hale said.

• Cannabis Flower: Our selection will encompass a variety of strains, including relaxing Indicas, invigorating Sativas, and well-balanced Hybrids. Whether you seek relief, creativity, or relaxation, we can assist you during your visit to find the right bud to match your mood.

• Prerolls: Are available for those seeking a convenient and hassle-free option.

• Vaporizers: Cannabis vaporizers and all-in-one disposable options offer a convenient, discreet smoke-free way to enjoy cannabis. These devices provide a more controlled way to experience cannabis, whether you’re seeking relaxation, focus, or relief.

• Edibles: Explore the delicious fusion of cannabis and culinary creativity with our selection of cannabis-infused edibles. From sweet or sour gummies to rich chocolates, edibles are designed for both enjoyment and precise dosing!

• Topicals: Looking for relief from aches, pains, or skin irritations without the high? Cannabis topicals might be just what you need. These creams are infused with cannabinoids like THC, CBN and CBD, designed to be applied directly to your skin for targeted, soothing relief. They’re non-intoxicating, so you can experience the benefits without any psychoactive effects.

• And MORE!

That is why Hale and his team are big on education. That is why Hale got into the business.

“It’s what keeps me in it,” he said, emphasizing, he will not push the products on anyone. “Everybody has the right to free will, to make their own choices. I will definitely help you if you need it, but if you decide, it is not for you, that’s fine.”

A core message from Hale and his team is they are providers, not pushers.

Every product they carry is lab tested, said Hale noting there are certificates of analysis available for all of the products.

“If customers ask for it, we print out a form [of] exactly what’s in it,” Hale said.

“Cannabis isn’t just street stuff anymore—it’s a high-tech, science-driven product that’s completely evolved.”

4/20

On April 20th or “420” – one of weed’s biggest holidays – Ginger Hale will be open on a Sunday – their first since they opened, and they are looking forward to celebrating! There will be giveaways and tons of sales all weekend long. Ginger Hale will have most of their customer appreciation activities, such as food trucks, on Saturday April 19th, due to 4/20 being on Easter Sunday, but they will be open on 4/20 as well. They’re looking forward to a great community event!

Check them out online (www.gingerhaldispensary.com) or in store. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.