New Jersey: How people celebrate the first day of legal cannabis sales
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Cannabis enthusiasts from New Jersey began queuing at predawn pharmacies across the Garden State on Thursday, when adult-use cannabis sales went into effect.
After the long wait on a bumpy road to legalizing marijuana, excitement is high.
With pounding soul music, free donuts in the parking lot, and a balloon arch at the entrance, New Jersey’s cannabis debut felt more like a fair than a store opening for those 21 and older. https://t.co/skwikfTo9A
— WJBF (@WJBF) April 21, 2022
As of Thursday, recreational cannabis sales in New Jersey will be open to adults 21 and older. The first cannabis stores, dubbed alternative treatment centers, began operating in parts of the state at 6 a.m.
“It’s a huge event. It’s a moment in American history when Prohibition 2.0 is lifted,” said Ben Kovler, chairman and CEO of Green Thumb Industries, which opened two facilities Thursday, one in Bloomfield and one in Paterson.
Photo by Steve Kelley aka mudpig/Getty Images
Driving while high is seriously frowned upon
While possession of up to 1 ounce will be legal, driving while high is definitely not. Some local police departments in Jersey have warned they plan to use specially trained drug detection experts to spot drunk drivers.
Speaking of cops
Gov. Phil Murphy announced last week that New Jersey police officers can use cannabis without penalty when they are not on the job.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin told police chiefs that they “must not take adverse action against officers because they use cannabis off-duty or not,” but they shouldn’t show up to work stoned.
RELATED: New Jersey police officers can legally use cannabis if they don’t
“No one is allowed to appear impaired. It’s fair to say that anyone who shows up impaired will be treated aggressively, whether they’re drinking, whether they’ve smoked weed, or for whatever reason,” Murphy reiterated at a news conference earlier this week.
First among its neighbors
New Jersey is the first among its East Coast neighbors to begin recreational sales. While New York is moving forward with a well-planned $1 billion market, sales aren’t expected to start before the end of the year.
RELATED: It’s Official: New Jersey Cannabis Sales Begin April 21 (Why Not April 20?)
Pennsylvania, which has an active medical cannabis market, has enacted regulations to decriminalize marijuana, or make it a low law enforcement priority, and is not yet awaiting legalization of adult use.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
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