Recreational Cannabis Sales To Begin In Less Than 12 Hours In New Jersey!

For the first time ever, cannabis lovers and users will be able to buy recreational cannabis on April 21st. This comes a year and a half after voters approved a referendum that would allow them to sell the facility to people aged 21 or older. The state’s plans to move forward Wednesday afternoon were announced by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. For those who don’t know, that’s just one day after 4/20, a day that many weed lovers have long celebrated as an unofficial holiday.

All of this comes after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared last month that legal cannabis sales would begin within weeks, though there were many people who still didn’t believe it. Since voters had backed an adult marijuana marketplace back in 2020, the target date kept pushing back, with no one knowing when it would finally happen. In 2021, the legislature had yet to pass new legislation to make the law enacted. But the day is finally upon us. Beginning April 21, anyone over the age of 21 can legally purchase cannabis in the Garden State.

The announcement

The New Jersey governor tweeted that this was a historic step in their work to create a new marijuana industry.

In a press release, New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) Executive Director Jeff Brown said this is an exciting time for New Jersey. He added that he was very proud of the work the Commission had done to open up the market over the past year. And how they consciously and willfully did everything in their power to put the market on a solid footing to launch

Where to find it

Initially, seven medical cannabis companies already in operation will sell to 13 dispensaries across the state for recreational use. An updated list will be made available on the Commission’s website over time. And now it’s definitely party time for those who can be there on opening day.

According to Benzinga, Acreage Holdings, Ascend Wellness, AYR Wellness, Curaleaf, Green Thumb, Columbia Care, TerrAscend and Verano Holdings are alternative treatment centers that have been approved for sale.

In an interview with The New York Times, Ben Kovler, the executive director of Green Thumb Industries, said in an interview that the end of weed ban was coming to New Jersey. And that they are prepared for a surge in demand.

Customers queuing at his pharmacies in Bloomfield and Paterson, about 20 miles from midtown Manhattan, are entertained by DJs, donut trucks, and a steel drum band. Local officials in neighboring communities are trying to figure out how to deal with the increased volume of visitors and traffic.

At the junction it will also be a matter of supply and demand. Naturally, demand will be higher than usual. But in order for any marijuana company to sell, it had to demonstrate to the commission that it had a sufficient supply of recreational and medical customers to ensure the former didn’t buy up everything the latter are accustomed to was.

Recreational cannabis sales in New Jersey are slated to begin ahead of New York, where sales are not expected to begin until the end of the year, according to state officials.

Neighboring cities like Pennsylvania still have medical marijuana but no recreational marijuana. A few other cities, including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, have enacted legislation to make cannabis legal, or at least reduce its priority for law enforcement. A bill legalizing recreational marijuana in Delaware was defeated by lawmakers last month.

Of the seven facilities in New Jersey, three known as alternative treatment centers are located in the state’s northern region. Another three of them are in the southern part of the state while one is in the central area. To get approval, the centers came together and decided that the upcoming influx of recreational customers would not affect patient access. Those facilities said they would prepare reserved parking spots for patients and respect hours, particularly for patients only.

Demand remains high

Health card holders should shop and stock up now to avoid the rush, according to Curaleaf, one of the state’s largest cannabis companies, which has also previously expressed displeasure with officials’ slowness in establishing a legal cannabis market. According to an ad, The Garden State will soon be a lot greener. So if you’re using it for medical reasons, make sure you shop now to skip the lines and get the drug you need.

According to the commission, this was also one of the reasons for a more phased deployment and why sales should not start on April 20th, arguably the biggest weed smoking and shopping day of the year. CRC Chair Diana Houenou said they remain committed to social justice. And they have promised to build this market on the pillars of security and social justice.

Finally, we want to see businesses and workers that reflect the diversity of the state, as well as local communities that benefit from this new and burgeoning economy. She added.

bottom line

Possession of six ounces or less of cannabis and its use on private property has been legalized in New Jersey for those 21 and older. This means that you will not be criminally charged for possessing weed. And now it’s fully legal to buy or sell not only medical marijuana, but recreational marijuana in New Jersey to anyone over the age of 21, as state officials have written regulations and (for now) issued licenses to seven companies that make it up become a new legal cannabis market.

Residents of legal age can now go to any registered recreational cannabis dispensary and purchase cannabis beginning April 21.

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