New Jersey is moving closer to opening its recreational marijuana market with plans slated for the first public meeting with the state’s new cannabis commission, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday.
The commission must establish regulations for the new recreational marijuana marketplace that voters ratified in an overwhelming vote in November. Murphy, a Democrat, said in February he thinks the market could be up and running in about six months.
More than 40 percent of Americans now live in states — 18 in total — that have embraced full legalization. Roughly two-thirds of American back legal weed, according to polls.
The acceptance of legal weed by governors and state lawmakers in 2021 — without the explicit blessing of voters — marks a turning point. Until this year, only two states had legalized recreational marijuana programs through the legislature: Illinois in 2019 and Vermont in 2020.
'A significant advantage for New Jersey'
New Jersey's recreational marijuana will be taxed at the state's general tax rate of 6.625%, while New York's recreational marijuana legalization law imposes a 13% sales tax on weed sales.
“One thing that does potentially project a significant advantage for New Jersey is the tax rate," New Frontier Data’s Chief Knowledge Officer John Kagia told Yahoo Finance, adding that the difference between the two tax rates "does make New Jersey more attractive."
Many clients have recently asked me, “How do I open a marijuana social lounge?” The short answer is you will need to apply for a cannabis retail license when the applications are published by the newly created New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (“CRC”).
So, How Do You Open Marijuana Social Lounges?
The unofficial commercial hub of Passaic County will take an official stance on marijuana sales when the Township Council meets on Wednesday.
The Republican-controlled council is expected to adopt a zoning ordinance to ban all six classes of cannabis establishments, including medical dispensaries, from opening in the township.
Officials enacted a similar law in September 2018, but that was before Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation to decriminalize the drug and set up a marketplace in which it can be sold.
The Barnegat police chief first expressed his views on the new marijuana laws, including the most recent amendment that allows law enforcement authorities to notify parents when their underage children are using marijuana or alcohol — or found with either in their possession.
“If you are a New Jersey voter who voted or supports the new law, you voted to legalize cannabis for adults,” maintained Germain. “What the legislature did was pass a disaster of a law that essentially legalizes marijuana and alcohol for kids.”
Adult use marijuana is now legal on both sides of the Hudson. But while New York’s law allows residents to grow up to six marijuana plants at home, in New Jersey, cultivating 10 plants in your basement could get you 20 years in prison.
In 2021, New Jersey legalized and decriminalized cannabis. These new laws have great potential to advance racial and social justice. But creating a brand new industry in place of a decades-long regime of prohibition – marked by aggressive, racially discriminatory enforcement – is bound to have growing pains, and bound to raise questions.
The ACLU-NJ answers some frequently asked questions about what the new cannabis laws mean, and what to expect.
What's the difference between "cannabis" and "marijuana"?
Both states are in line to reap hundreds of millions in tax revenue, but awaiting the “winner” of the legal weed race could be a lucrative period of exclusivity, where not just state residents but millions of visitors from across the Mid-Atlantic could conceivably be within a few hours of legal — and taxed — marijuana.
Gopal is not sure why home grown was not part of the legalization but given the overwhelming support the question received he believes it needs to be included.
"Homegrown is true legalization. That's what the people of New Jersey voted on. To legalize this, to move on from this topic and we can focus our criminal justice tax dollars on violent criminals and not non-violent offenders," Gopal said. "It's obviously also important for medical patients who can't travel, giving residents of New Jersey that choice."