5 Weed Companies Violated NJ Rules During 1st Days Of Recreational Sales: State

NEW JERSEY — Five companies that operate cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey were fined for selling recreational weed during hours reserved for medical patients, according to state authorities. Eight of the 12 New Jersey dispensaries allowed to begin selling recreational cannabis in April violated the rule during the opening days of the state's legal, adult-use market, state documents reveal.

The five firms processed almost 3,200 recreational sales during hours meant only for medical patients, resulting in a combined $360,000 in fines, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The violations occurred from April 21-29 — the first days when select, pre-existing medical-cannabis dispensaries could begin selling recreational weed.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission fined the companies $10,000 per day that it says violations occurred: $90,000 for Verano, $80,000 each for Green Thumb Industries and Ascend, $60,000 for Acreage and $50,000 for Curaleaf. The state alerted each company of the penalties in letters dated May 13.

Recreational sales at New Jersey dispensaries began April 21. On that day, the state cannabis commission allowed 12 dispensaries, which already sold medical cannabis, to sell the substance recreationally.

In the leadup to April 21, the state commission emphasized that the dispensaries must prioritize medical patients and implement special lines and/or hours for them to ensure they could pick up their medicine without long wait times or interruptions to care. When the state opened recreational sales at dispensaries, they expectedly faced long lines — both because of the hype for the long-awaited day and because only a dozen dispensaries in the state could sell recreationally.

But the state cannabis commission deemed the opening day a success. The governing body called it a "robust, trouble-free first day" in an April 21 news release, stating that "no significant patient access issues or supply shortages have been reported."

Despite the commission's initial assessment, the governing body issued fines weeks later to five companies that operate dispensaries. The companies each allowed varying numbers of recreational sales to take place during hours reserved for medical patients, according to state documents.

The companies violated the rule at the following dispensaries, according to state documents:

• Acreage: Egg Harbor Township and Williamstown
• Ascend: Rochelle Park
• Curaleaf: Bellmawr
• Green Thumb Industries: Paterson and Bloomfield
• Verano: Lawrence and Elizabeth

The fine of $10,000 per day for the violation is meant to be lenient, according to the state cannabis commission. Companies can appeal. But once they receive the notice of violation, they have 20 days to show they're complying with state laws.