So far 22 businesses either have applied or are waiting for a date on the Jersey City planning board agenda to apply. In addition to approval from Jersey City applicants need a license from the state of New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission which is now hearing applications, though it has not issued a timeline for when a given application will be heard.
As for the why, there seem to be as many reasons as there are applicants.
Dispensaries — not dealers
Gummies, oils, tinctures and dried flower (or bud, as pot users say) awaited customers beyond a set of frosted doors with a black metal frame. People began lining up outside Zen Leaf’s dispensary as early as 6 a.m., three hours before the store officially opened. As the line spilled over in front of a neighboring supermarket, customers seemed incredulous that they could buy weed at an official store, and not just from some guy down the street.
“How legal is this?” asked one person on the line. “Let’s test some waters.”
TRENTON – Twelve cannabis dispensaries across New Jersey opened for adult-use sales for the first time Thursday morning. While lines were long in some locations, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has had to investigate only a few minor complaints. No significant patient access issues or supply shortages have been reported.
Recreational cannabis customers in New Jersey are now able to buy up to 1 ounce of dried flower or up to 5 grams of concentrates, resins, or oils, or 10 100mg packages of ingestible items in a single transaction.
“I know a lot of New Jerseyans have been waiting for today, including yours truly,” Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in front of a line of customers waiting to get into the Verano dispensary. “This is a moment I’m incredibly proud to see us get to.”
New Jersey voters approved a legalization referendum at the ballot in 2020, and stakeholders have been eagerly awaiting the implementation of regulations that the legislature enacted last year. Now, 13 existing medical cannabis dispensaries are open for business for adult consumers.
What will I pay in taxes?
The price of an ounce of cannabis will fluctuate, like any commodity.
But the actual tax paid by New Jersey consumers will fluctuate as well. If the average price per ounce is $350 or more, you can expect to pay $41.50 in taxes, a markup of about 12%, including a $10 social justice excise fee.
The state is just days away from legal sales of adult-use recreational marijuana. Assistant general manager Joe Greene says ZenLeaf in Elizabeth is ready for launch this Thursday, when the recreational cannabis marketplace opens in New Jersey. Just a few weeks ago, ZenLeaf was one of seven medical facilities blocked by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission from launching a recreational marketplace. But last week, all seven were approved.
So many people noted the irony of the start date for buying weed legally here in the state. After all, you would’ve expected it to be April 20, not April 21. Some speculate that April 20 would’ve caused too much chaos.
I believe it’s just that they did not want to play along. After all, the date 4/20 is too closely associated with illegal weed and “potheads” you knew in high school.
At the Tuesday meeting of the board of directors for the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, members will consider a proposal for a cannabis dispensary at 2415 Pacific Ave.
The site is currently home to a vacant retail building, set between Delilah’s Den and a corner liquor store a block off the Boardwalk.
The application is for a “Class 5 micro dispensary for the sale of recreational cannabis” and requires a variance. The CRDA functions as the planning board for Atlantic City within the tourism district.
The company applying for the variance is Sonraj LLC.
The launch of New Jersey’s long-awaited adult-use cannabis market is set for April 21, Gov. Phil Murphy announced April 14 on Twitter.
“Starting on April 21st, adults ages 21+ will be able to legally purchase cannabis and cannabis products without a medical card,” Murphy tweeted. “This is a historic step in our work to create a new cannabis industry.”
Murphy’s announcement came just three days after the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) approved seven medical cannabis dispensaries to serve the adult-use market.
Verano is the only cannabis company currently permitted to begin personal adult-use cannabis sales in New Jersey's central region on April 21st at its Zen Leaf Elizabeth (117 Spring St) and Lawrence Township (3256 Brunswick Pike) dispensary locations. Verano also operates Zen Leaf Neptune Township (2100 Route 66), a medical cannabis dispensary that will also be permitted to begin adult-use sales under the state's new regulations.