To Brodchandel, the chief executive officer and founder of Secaucus-based dispensary Harmony Foundation, it’s just one example of how much the tide has turned in the Garden State, particularly when it comes to public sentiment about the use of cannabis, whether for medical or recreational purposes. As the one-year anniversary of adult recreational use in New Jersey approaches, he and others in the industry can reflect on how public opinion has evolved and the issues state regulators should focus on going forward. “It’s not just about running a business.
A new marijuana dispensary in Somerset County has recently been approved to allow recreational cannabis for adults.
Bloc Dispensary, at 1075 Easton Ave., Somerset, officially opened for medical use only in December 2022. The dispensary was able to expand its cannabis offerings for recreational use as of March 2.
Valley Wellness, which already operates a medical cannabis dispensary next to Uneeda Appliance on Route 202, is scheduled to go before the Planning Board March 8 with plans to add an adult personal use dispensary to its business.
Valley Wellness opened its medical dispensary Dec 9 and since then, according to documents submitted to the Planning Board, is seeing 35 patients a day.
If the personal use dispensary opens, Valley Wellness projects an average of 100 personal use customers a day. Valley also projects 50 medical patients a day.
From July 2022 to September 2022, New Jersey recreational cannabis sales totaled $116.5 million. This marks a 46% increase from the $79.7 million in revenue generated from April 21 – when the adult-use marketplace opened – through June, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC).
The figure increases to $177.7 million when you factor in medicinal sales from that same time period.
There are now 20 dispensaries in New Jersey selling recreational cannabis, and another 10 that sell medicinal cannabis to registered patients only.
Unity Rd., the first national cannabis dispensary franchise in the United States, will open its first New Jersey recreational marijuana shop in the township in the first half of 2023.The shop site will be located in a strip mall at 441 Elizabeth Ave.
Dishen Patel, owner of the shop, has received approval from both the state and the township, to open the business.
Patel has spent the past decade in private equity investing in consumer-driven brands, including several franchise restaurants.
The Raritan Borough Council passed an ordinance permitting medical cannabis alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to operate as an expanded ATC dispensary—allowing ATCs such as Valley Wellness to sell recreational cannabis.
The next step for Valley Wellness includes appearing before the planning board for additional site plan approval since their current site plan only applies to medical marijuana use. Brian Tipton, the attorney representing Valley Wellness, said back in October that will likely happen months from now into the new year.
New York’s first legal weed dispensary is set to open Thursday.
On the eve of its grand opening, PIX11 News got a look inside Housing Works Cannabis, located at 750 Broadway, near Astor Place.
Last month, the state granted 36 licenses. 28 were given to business owners, prioritizing people who had served time behind bars for marijuana-related offenses. Eight additional licenses were issued to nonprofits like Housing Works, which serves people affected by HIV and homelessness. Proceeds from sales at the Housing Works store will go toward its programs.
Dispensaries selling cannabis at $450 per ounce; CRC hopes costs drop
With cannabis selling at $450 per ounce at dispensaries, the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) is hopeful the price will drop as more facilities open in New Jersey.
During a CRC meeting Oct. 27, Executive Director Jeff Brown said medical cannabis enrollment plateaued in May and June with lower numbers following recreational adult use sales beginning in April. He said a tremendous number of patients continue to be enrolled month over month.
The dispensary owned by Curaleaf in Bordentown Township began adult weed sales on Tuesday, becoming the 20th store in New Jersey to sell legalized recreational adult marijuana.
The soft opening was confirmed to NJ Advance Media by Curaleaf spokeswoman Meg Kelly.
Kelly said the company plans to officially announce the launch of adult weed sales in Bordentown and other details on Wednesday.
New Jersey employers have finally received a roadmap from the state on marijuana in the workplace. Late last week the Cannabis Regulatory Commission issued the long-awaited guidance as a first step toward the development of permanent standards outlining how businesses should respond if a worker is impaired due to marijuana. A key recommendation says employers can, but aren’t required to, use so-called Workplace Impairment Recognition Experts, or WIREs, when determining if an employee is high at work.