Recreational pot sales begin this week in New Jersey and I really oughta be more excited about it. After all, I’ve spent my adult life working to reform NJ’s backwards marijuana laws and here we are, on the precipice of what everyone else is calling a huge milestone.
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.
Registered patients will be able to purchase up to 3.0 ounces of cannabis for medical use every 30 days. Now, recreational users can purchase up to 1.0 ounces per purchase starting this week.
You must be at least 21 years old to purchase recreational marijuana in New Jersey.
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.
New Jersey will launch its projected $2 billion adult-use marijuana market on April 21 amid lingering questions about whether operators can adequately serve the state’s 120,000 medical cannabis patients without disrupting recreational supplies.
The long-awaited start of recreational marijuana sales also comes as social equity applicants in the state are struggling to develop their businesses, including raising capital.
The initial seven adult-use companies are all multistate operators.
Thirteen of the state's existing medical marijuana dispensaries will soon be able to sell legal weed to any adult over 21 years old after they received crucial approvals from the state on Monday.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission on Thursday approved seven applications for conversion submitted by Acreage Holdings, Ascend New Jersey, Columbia Care, Curaleaf, Green Thumb Industries, TerrAscend and Verano Holdings.