The Story Behind Camden’s Most Unique Cannabis Dispensary

Camden Apothecary is located directly adjacent to the historic Bell Pharmacy, founded in 1931 in Camden’s Parkside neighborhood. In its early years, the pharmacy (then known as the Bell Drug Company) legally dispensed cannabis as part of its standard pharmaceutical offerings, until the federal government prohibited its sale in 1937.

This means we’re the only dispensary in the nation to have sold cannabis both before and after its prohibition, something no other cannabis dispensary in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or anywhere else in the country can claim. Nearly a century later, we’re still here serving the Camden and Philadelphia communities, and doing so with the same commitment to quality and care that defined us from the beginning.

We like to think of ourselves as a museum of cannabis. Even if you’re not planning to shop, we invite you to come in and experience our one-of-a-kind atmosphere. The dispensary is home to a carefully preserved collection of historic artifacts dating back to the early 1900s, including original tincture bottles, antique pharmacy compounding tools, vintage signage, and more. It’s a glimpse into the fascinating history of cannabis, located right here in Camden, NJ.