Ruby McKenzie
If you’re 21 or older and have a valid medical marijuana card, New Jersey makes it legal to purchase and possess up to an ounce of cannabis in the state. However, there are a few important things to remember before buying weed in NJ.
First, it’s expensive. The seven approved dispensaries charge $10 per gram plus a 6.625% sales tax and a 2% municipal social equity fee.
Legality
A person in New Jersey who is 21 years old or older can legally purchase weed from one of the 21 adult-use weed dispensaries in the state. However, there are a number of things you should know before making your first purchase.
For starters, a person can only buy up to 1 ounce of marijuana per transaction or 4 grams of concentrates or oils. Buying more than that will require another transaction. Also, you can only buy from a licensed dispensary, and it’s illegal to travel with cannabis across state lines.
In addition, it’s still a felony to grow marijuana plants at home or carry more than 1 ounce of cannabis in public places like restaurants or bars. If caught doing so, you can face fines and jail time. You’re also not allowed to smoke weed in places where cigarette smoking is prohibited, including workplaces, schools, and public parks. And finally, you can’t drive while under the influence of marijuana.
It’s important to keep in mind that the legal marijuana market is a very new one. As such, prices can fluctuate. This is due to a variety of factors, such as production costs and real estate prices. In the long run, prices should decrease as more dispensaries open and competition increases.
The cannabis industry is expected to bring in $30 million in revenue this year alone. However, critics argue that the proceeds aren’t enough to address the lingering effects of decades of criminalization.
While New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved the legalization of marijuana, the sale of weed hasn’t yet begun. The date kept getting pushed back because the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is still working on the rules and regulations for the retail cannabis industry. Edmund DeVeaux, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, doesn’t view these delays as a problem.
As of April 11, the CRC has granted seven retailers conditional approval to sell cannabis in the state. Recreational marijuana can be bought at these locations in the form of dried flower, oils, concentrates, vape formulas, tinctures, topicals, and syringes. Edibles like cookies and brownies are not available at these stores yet.
Taxes
It’s 4/20 Eve, the unofficial holiday marking the day when New Jersey begins selling legal marijuana to anyone over 21. The state is preparing to become the first in the region to sell recreational cannabis, but it’s not going to be easy. There are still some skeptics who say legal marijuana has no place in society, but others believe that recreational pot sales will help to combat opioid addiction.
Currently, the only way to purchase marijuana in New Jersey is at a dispensary. There are 35 dispensaries, a small number compared to other states with nascent marijuana industries. But New Jersey officials are confident that the Garden State will soon have enough dispensaries to meet demand.
The selection at a dispensary will vary depending on the location and the products being sold. You can buy up to an ounce of dry flower or five grams of concentrates, resins, oils, and other infused products. You can also purchase pre-rolled joints, vape pens, edibles, topicals, and tinctures. However, the types of products you can purchase will be limited by law.
In addition to the state’s general sales tax, marijuana will be subject to a social equity excise fee of one-third of a percent. The state is hoping that this tax structure will provide the necessary revenue to pay for the costs of regulating and operating the marijuana industry. However, experts believe the tax system is not ideal for generating significant revenue.
Aside from paying taxes, you will need to comply with all other state laws. For example, you must be over the age of 21 to buy marijuana and have a valid form of ID. Moreover, you must be on private property or in a designated consumption area of the dispensary to consume it. It’s also illegal to transport marijuana back into Pennsylvania.
You can also be fined if you are found driving while under the influence of marijuana or in possession of drug paraphernalia. That means it is important to know the state laws before going to New Jersey. If you have any questions about buying marijuana in the state, you can contact the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
Applicable Conditions
When it comes to purchasing weed in New Jersey, there are a number of conditions that must be met. These include age, location, and legality. If you’re not 21 years old, it’s illegal to buy or possess marijuana in the state. In addition, it’s also illegal to smoke marijuana in public or transport it from one place to another. The laws regarding recreational weed use in New Jersey are strict and constantly changing.
Those who aren’t 21 should have their IDs on them at all times when buying weed in New Jersey, even for small amounts. In addition, it’s not safe to drive while under the influence of marijuana or any other drug. It’s also not recommended to combine weed with other drugs, such as alcohol or prescription drugs.
The first few days and weeks of recreational weed sales will likely bring huge demand, and dispensaries are not uncommon to sell out popular products. It’s best to check out each store’s website before you head out. You can also call ahead to see what products are available.
New Jersey lawmakers purposefully left deadlines out of the legislation allowing for recreational marijuana sales, as they wanted to avoid a rush that could lead to long lines and shortages. However, the companies that received the initial approval for sales have already opened dispensaries across the state. They include Acreage CCF New Jersey, Ascend Wellness, Columbia Care, Curaleaf, Green Thumb Industries (GTI), and TerrAscend.
If you’re planning on traveling to New Jersey to purchase weed, remember that it’s not allowed to be transported across state lines. And don’t forget that you can only legally consume it on private property or in a designated consumption area at the dispensary.
Even though Pennsylvania voters approved medical marijuana in 2016, only patients with a written recommendation from a doctor are permitted to purchase it there. And only a limited amount can be bought: six ounces or less of flower, up to five grams of concentrates, resins, and oils, and 1,000 milligrams of ingestible products like gummies.
Licensing
New Jersey cannabis laws require anyone involved in buying, selling, or transporting weed to have a license. This includes retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. There are different license types, and the qualifications for each vary. The state also requires comprehensive business information as part of the application process.
A license does not guarantee a company’s success but gives them access to the market. As a result, prospective applicants must take care to meet all requirements in order to have the best chance of success.
The initial licensing process for recreational cannabis began in March 2022, and the state has been steadily rolling out permits since then. Currently, there are 23 locations open for medicinal sales, and another dozen or so will eventually become recreational dispensaries.
In general, people in the state are able to purchase up to an ounce of flower or dried marijuana, up to five grams of concentrates or oils, and up to 1,000 milligrams of edibles. The selection will vary from store to store, and dispensaries can choose to stop selling certain products if they don’t have enough in stock.
Consumers are encouraged to be aware of the product limits, and the availability of some items will likely be limited initially as demand picks up. It’s also important to remember that people carrying paraphernalia (anything that can be used to cultivate or consume weed) will not be allowed to bring it back across state lines, even if they’ve only consumed the drug in New Jersey.
Lastly, people with previous drug-related convictions should check their records to see if they can get their cases expunged before making plans to buy weed in New Jersey. You can do this by visiting the court where you were charged and requesting a record search and expungement.
While many are celebrating the arrival of legal weed in New Jersey, critics say it isn’t doing much to help those with prior criminal records. In fact, they say that the current system may actually make it worse for them because it means fewer police resources are spent on minor marijuana offenses, and more time is given to those who pose a greater threat or cost to society, such as violent offenders.
