Quick Summary: BestBüds is a women- and Hispanic-owned cannabis dispensary in downtown Woodbury, New Jersey. Former FDU soccer teammates Amanda Terpstra and Laura Trujillo founded the business. Cannabis Business Insights named BestBüds “Top Cannabis Dispensary Service 2026.” The dispensary offers education-focused service and champions women and minority cannabis entrepreneurs across New Jersey.
Friendship is at the core of BestBüds, and it also built the business. Years of trust, hard work, and shared values turned two former soccer teammates into co-founders. Amanda Terpstra and Laura Trujillo met playing soccer at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where they pushed each other toward excellence long before becoming business partners.
Amanda and Laura used that same trust and determination to found BestBüds.
Key Takeaways:
- Amanda Terpstra and Laura Trujillo, former FDU soccer teammates turned business partners, co-founded BestBüds.
- Both founders came to cannabis through personal wellness journeys.
- The dispensary is women-owned and Hispanic-owned; Laura is a proud Puerto Rican entrepreneur and Amanda a Woodbury native.
- Cannabis Business Insights recognized BestBüds as the “Top Cannabis Dispensary Service 2026.”
- Amanda and Laura remain focused on education, community investment, and supporting other women and minority operators in New Jersey cannabis.
A Friendship Rooted in Wellness
Long before BestBüds existed, Laura and Amanda navigated their own relationships with cannabis. Laura found relief from PTSD, while Amanda used cannabis to recover from sports injuries. Those personal experiences inspired them to see cannabis as a genuine tool for wellness. Over time, that idea grew into a shared mission: helping others discover the same relief they’d found.
Today, the two combine Amanda’s strategic, business-minded approach with Laura’s creativity and marketing expertise. Their soccer days taught them how to approach the same goal from different roles. That dynamic shapes how they support each other’s work at BestBüds.
The duo built their partnership on trusting each other to handle what they each do best.
Choosing Woodbury, and Earning a Place in It
Woodbury holds personal significance for Amanda, whose family has deep roots in the city’s small business community. Instead of simply applying for a license, the founders spent years attending town council meetings. They joined the local chamber of commerce and got involved with organizations like United Way.
That groundwork mattered when things got difficult. Woodbury’s original cannabis ordinance excluded South Broad Street, where BestBüds wanted to locate. The founders lobbied to change the ordinance. They won approval, then faced a lawsuit over the location’s proximity to a daycare and a church. BestBüds prevailed, but the fight reminded them how much of an uphill battle cannabis businesses can face, even after doing everything right.
Throughout it all, Laura and Amanda leaned on the community of support they had built over the years.
Still Rooted in Education
BestBüds’ mission has always extended past the products on the shelf. The founders support local expungement and reentry efforts. They’ve built their in-store experience around education, from one-on-one conversations with budtenders to resources that help customers feel confident in what they’re choosing.
They also advocate for other women and minority entrepreneurs, arguing that support shouldn’t stop once the state awards a license. For Amanda and Laura, that means staying visible and vocal in New Jersey’s cannabis community.
Together they show other operators, especially other women and minority founders, that there’s a path forward and people willing to help them find it.
FAQs About BestBüds
- Who founded BestBüds?
Amanda Terpstra and Laura Trujillo founded BestBüds. The two met playing soccer at Fairleigh Dickinson University and turned years of friendship into a business partnership. - Is BestBüds a women-owned and Hispanic-owned dispensary?
Yes. Two women own and run BestBüds, and co-founder Laura Trujillo is a proud Puerto Rican entrepreneur. - What makes the BestBüds shopping experience different?
BestBüds builds its in-store experience around education. Budtenders talk with customers one-on-one, and the team offers resources that help both new and experienced shoppers choose products with confidence. - How does BestBüds support the community?
The founders support local expungement and reentry efforts. They also advocate for women and minority entrepreneurs throughout New Jersey’s cannabis industry.
Visit BestBüds in Woodbury, NJ
A years-long friendship and a hard-won place in the Woodbury community shaped BestBüds. Check out our consumer education resources, and learn more about why Cannabis Business Insights recognized us as the “Top Cannabis Dispensary Service 2026.”
Stop by BestBüds at 135 South Broad St. in Woodbury, NJ 08096, Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM.
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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this blog are intended for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
