Pot Sales Begin In NJ: Here's How Day One Went

NEW JERSEY - Bud. Pot. Mary Jane. Herb. Reefer. Whatever you call it, as of Thursday, you now can purchase it legally in New Jersey without a medical card.

Eager first-time customers lined up at 13 dispensaries around the state Thursday morning, with sites like Curaleaf in Bellmawr reporting lines that formed as early as midnight.

Justin Dugary, 34, of Barrington, said a medical card to buy medicinal cannabis is out of his price range. Thus, he will use the marijuana he buys recreationally for medicinal purposes.

"I've had Crohn's disease my whole life … and marijuana is the only thing that helps with my symptoms, the only thing that has allowed me to eat, sleep and live comfortably, even being so young," Dugary said. "I appreciate how much it's helped me through my life and I wanted to be the first person to buy [recreational marijuana] legally."

Several other New Jersey residents said they find it hard to support the Garden State's latest sojourn into the burgeoning marijuana industry.

"I've seen and learned too many negatives about it to feel good about its legalization," Stephanie Scanlon, of the West Deptford area, told Patch. "It's not like drinking alcohol where it's out of your system by the next day (depending on how much you drank). If you're a regular weed user, it stays in your system for much, much longer." Read more: 'Monumental Day' As Recreational Pot Goes On Sale In Camden County

Security measures like private guards, police officers and barricades were reported in several locations as well, even though many dispensaries looked more like Apple stores than pharmacies.

"We want our consumers to feel safe and comfortable as soon as they walk in. Especially out medical marijuana users. We provide special care and attention to them," said Zack Swan, National Director, Retail and Marketing at Verano, the parent company that owns Zen Leaf (which has dispensary locations in Elizabeth and Lawrence).

Inside the storefront, customers will find a soothing environment with well-lit shelves and custom-labeled products.

"The packaging is comparable to a traditional medical product, and there's no pictures, imagery, nothing along those lines, that would be appealing to a child. The packaging is also child-resistant," Swan added. Read more: Upscale Comfort: Inside Mercer Co. Dispensary Selling Recreational Pot

You can purchase up to one ounce of cannabis per transaction. That's one ounce of dried flower, 1000 mg of gummies or 5 grams of concentrates like oils or resins. One transaction can include a combination of items.

And if you’re heading out to pick up your first legal eighth, don’t forget to stop by an ATM first: none of the dispensaries will be accepting credit card transactions due to federal legalities. PayPal, Venmo and Apple Pay also follow federal regulations, in which marijuana is still illegal.

Where can I get pot now?

Seven dispensaries - known formally as alternative treatment centers - in 11 different counties were approved earlier this month to begin selling recreational cannabis to the adult-use market at 13 locations. They are:

North Jersey

• Apothecarium, 1865 Springfield, Avenue, Maplewood
• Apothecarium, 55 South Main Street, Phillipsburg
• Ascend Wellness, 174 Route 17 North, Rochelle Park
• RISE, 26-48 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield
• RISE, 196 3rd Avenue, #3C, Paterson

Central Jersey

• Zen Leaf, 117 Spring Street, Elizabeth
• Zen Leaf, 3256 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township

South Jersey

• The Botanist, 100 Century Drive, Egg Harbor Township
• The Botanist, 2090 N Blackhorse Pike, Williamstown
• The Cannabist/Columbia Care, 1692 Clements Bridge Road, Deptford – 5 PM Open for recreational
• The Cannabist/Columbia Care, 1062 North Delsea Drive, Vineland – 5 PM Open for recreational
• Curaleaf, 640 Creek Road, Bellmawr
• Curaleaf, 4237 US-130 South, Edgewater Park

How did we get here?

It’s been a long time coming for New Jersey pot enthusiasts, who received a first glimmer of hope for legalization after state voters approved a ballot question in November 2020 to legalize regulated marijuana sales in the state for those 21 and older.

Following Murphy’s stamp of approval, last year municipalities raced to the August 2021 deadline to either approve or deny cannabis businesses within town limits.

“From day one, my administration has worked with our partners in the Legislature to advance social justice on behalf of the communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition by working to expunge cannabis-related convictions, decriminalize possession, and establish an equitable cannabis industry,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a statement on Thursday.

“The first sale of legal, adult-use cannabis today marks a historic moment for New Jersey, as we leave behind the indefensible practices that led to the incarceration of countless people of color and embrace the opportunities of a fair, regulated adult-use market.”

Related: Murphy 'Open' To Ban Pot For Off-Duty NJ Cops

To ensure supply remains ample for medical marijuana patients, each of the alternative treatment centers has confirmed their ability to continue providing access to existing patients and prioritize their needs through strategies such as patient-specific hours and parking spaces.

Alternative treatment centers approved by the CRC to sell to the adult-use market are also required to meet “social equity standards,” including providing technical information to new cannabis businesses owned by individuals who have lived in economically-disadvantaged areas or have had cannabis-related convictions.

The facilities will continuously be assessed on hiring and management diversity, support for community programs, and the percentage of minority-owned vendors or suppliers with which they contract. In fact, 70 percent of the sales tax collected on adult use cannabis sales will also go towards communities affected by marijuana-related arrests to further these social justice and equity goals.

“Today’s launch marks the latest major milestone in what has been a long journey to stand up an adult-use market in New Jersey,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “As these initial retailers begin New Jersey’s first recreational sales, I am particularly excited to see the growth trajectory of the industry and what will be achieved for our economy through reinvestments into our communities.”

Safety first

The state Cannabis Regulatory Commission has issued the following tips for cannabis customers in New Jersey:

• Do: Be patient – expect long lines and wait your turn to be served.
• Do: Start low and go slow – follow product instructions and remember ingestible products can take longer to take effect than smoking or vaping. Call NJ Poison Center at 800-222-1222 if you are concerned you may have ingested or used too much.
• Do: Store your legal cannabis products securely, out of the reach of kids. Legal cannabis products are in child safe packaging, but always keep them secure and out of the reach of anyone under the age of 21.
• Don't: Drive while high. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and dangerous.
• Don't: Cross state lines. It is illegal to transport legal cannabis products from New Jersey outside of New Jersey.
• Don't: Buy more than one ounce. Consumers can't purchase more than an ounce in a single transaction, and legally cannot possess more than one ounce at any time. Consumers could face criminal penalties if they disregard these limits.
• Do: Be safe, be smart, follow the rules.

You can read the state's guidelines for safe and responsible marijuana consumption here.

With reporting by Janel Miller and Sarah Salvadore.