Weed Lounges Coming To NJ: Here Are The State's Proposed Rules

NEW JERSEY — While New Jersey has plenty of bars and cigar lounges, so far cannabis users have gone without a public space for enjoying the substance. But the state came a step closer to new era of weed lounges, as regulators unveiled a set of proposed laws for weed lounges.

The public has until March 18 to comment on the proposals, which the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission unveiled last week. (See them below.)

Under the regulations, dispensaries and retailers could apply for licensing on a consumption area within their premises. All patrons must be 21 or older — the state's legal age for recreational use.

Patrons will need to find something to eat elsewhere, as the state would prohibit on-site food sales for all consumption areas. However, they can bring their own food or have it delivered, according to the proposed rules.

Alcohol, tobacco and other nicotine products would be prohibited.

A business could place its consumption area indoors or outdoors. If it's indoors, the area must be separate from where the dispensing or sales or cannabis occurs. Additionally, that area can only be accessed through an interior door, and it must comply with the ventilation requirements for cigar lounges.

Outdoor areas won't require complete enclosure, per the proposal. But it must have sufficient walls, fences or barriers to ensure that the public can't view any cannabis consumption from sidewalks or roads.

Like much of New Jersey's legal cannabis industry, opening a consumption lounge will come with a hefty licensing fee. The application process alone would cost $1,000. Then each approved licensee would need to pay fees on renewal — $1,000 for microbusinesses, $5,000 for all others.

Municipal governments would have the power to enact local regulations, including the prohibition of such lounges. To open a lounge, applicants would need approval from the state commission and the local governing body. Municipal officials would have 28 days to deny or approve an application.

Here are some of the other proposed regulations:

• No serving additional cannabis to anyone visibly intoxicated.
• When a patron leaves, any of their unconsumed cannabis must get resealed with an exit package and carried out. Otherwise, the weed must be destroyed.
• None of the business's employees can consume the substance on-duty, unless they're a registered medical-cannabis patient.
• No free samples.
• If an emergency requires police or other first responders to enter, all consumption must halt until they leave the premises.

While the adult consumption of recreational cannabis has been legal in New Jersey for about two years, only private consumption has been allowed. The state began allowing legal recreational sales on April 21, and there are currently 21 dispensaries that can sell the substance for such use.

Ten states either allow social consumption or have laws that will eventually allow for the activity, according to Leafly. In 2019, Alaska became the first state to allow consumption lounges. New York and Pennsylvania also have plans to allow for such spaces, the National Cannabis Industry Association says.

The public may provide written comments on New Jersey's proposed regulations by March 18. Send comments online, or mail them to the following address:

Dave Tuason, Deputy Counsel
New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission
225 East State Street, 2nd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608

Each commenter should list their name and affiliation.

View the proposed regulations below: