More than 12,000 shows for the first day of legal weed sales in New Jersey |

More than 12,000 customers turned up last Thursday when New Jersey first began selling recreational cannabis, the state reported this week.

The numbers come from the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which said 12,438 customers showed up for the grand opening, generating nearly $1.9 million in total adult cannabis sales.

“We anticipated significant sales and the data shows that the market is effectively serving both consumers and patients used by adults,” said Jeff Brown, executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, in a statement. “We continue to monitor inventory and access for patients and stand ready to take enforcement action against them [medical cannabis dispensary] which does not meet patient access and care requirements.”

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission said that although “pipelines at all dispensaries have been stable, there have been no substantiated reports of supply problems for patients using medicinal cannabis” and that it “continues to monitor and respond to complaints to ensure patients are receiving medical treatment.” have adequate care and access.”

In addition, the commission, which “sets and enforces the rules and regulations governing the licensing, cultivation, testing, sale and purchase of cannabis in the state,” said sales of “medical cannabis products have also been strong over the past 30 years.” was days with approximately 64,000 ounces of product dispensed to patients and their caregivers.”

Just a dozen dispensaries were cleared to begin selling at the opening – which fell on the day after 420 – after the state repeatedly missed deadlines and delayed launches.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission earlier this month approved the dispensaries allowed to sell recreational cannabis on opening day. All of these first adult-use dispensaries were existing medicinal cannabis companies.

The New York Times reported at the time that “each of the cannabis companies had demonstrated that they had sufficient supplies for both medical and recreational customers,” and that if “they fail to meet that requirement, they risk fines of up to $10,000 a day.” .

Additionally, The Times reported that the licensed cannabis companies “also needed to show they had a strategy in place to ensure patients were not crowded out by the expected flood of new customers in the early days of legal sales in the densely populated region.”

According to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, there were no shortages after the first week of adult sales.

The commission said on the first day of sales last week that while it had “experienced long lines in some locations,” it had only had to “investigate a few minor complaints” and that no “significant patient access problems or supply shortages were reported.” ”

“We encourage everyone to stay safe by only purchasing from licensed dispensaries and start low and go slow — especially those who are new to cannabis or have not used cannabis in a long time,” Brown said in a statement at the time. “Also remember that impaired driving laws apply to the high as well. Our guests from neighboring states should remember that it is illegal to transport cannabis across state lines.”

All was not well for New Jersey’s new cannabis program, however. Sales were originally supposed to start in February, but that deadline has come and gone.

At the time, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he believed the sale was near.

“If I had to predict, within weeks — March, I would hope — we would see an implied movement in medical pharmacies, some of which are capable of selling recreational products,” Murphy said. “They have to prove they have the supplies for their medical clients. My hope is that independent recreational marijuana operators will emerge shortly after that.”

But after March passed without a launch, New Jersey State Senate President Nick Scutari said he wanted answers.

Scutari called the delays “completely unacceptable” and said he intends to head a special committee to investigate the state’s problematic introduction of cannabis.