5 Things You Need To Know About Marijuana Legalization In NJ

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey has legalized marijuana. But now that a new era has dawned for marijuana in the Garden State, many people probably have questions before they take their first toke.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re curious about trying cannabis in New Jersey.

NJ POT LAWS: THE BASICS

New Jersey voters approved recreational marijuana in November 2020. But it wasn’t legal to fire up the bong until Gov. Phil Murphy signed the official framework into law on Feb. 22.

Now, adults 21 and over are allowed to consume cannabis on private property. Similar to New Jersey’s alcohol laws, it’s still illegal to smoke or consume marijuana in a public place, such as a park or the beach.

Underage use is prohibited, but results in a series of written warnings instead of fines and arrest.

Cannabis has also been decriminalized in New Jersey. You can possess up to six ounces of marijuana or 17 grams of hashish without penalty.

It’s legal to buy up to an ounce of cannabis at a licensed dispensary (see below). New Jersey residents can’t grow marijuana at home.

People accused of illegally selling less than an ounce are issued a written warning for their first offense, and can be charged with a fourth-degree crime for each following incident – but they can’t be arrested.

• See related article: NJ Low-Level Marijuana Arrests To Stop, Charges To Be Dismissed

WHERE CAN I BUY LEGAL WEED IN NJ?

So where can you buy “legal” weed in the Garden State? The short answer is, nowhere right now … unless you’re a registered New Jersey medical marijuana patient.

The law allows for 37 state-licensed cultivator permits over the next two years. Locations aren’t known yet, and will be decided by the state’s new cannabis regulatory board.

Experts say it will be at least six months before the first legal cannabis sale will take place in New Jersey.

Visitors from out of state, including New York and Pennsylvania, will be able to purchase recreational cannabis at a licensed dispensary, but can’t take any marijuana back with them when they return home due to federal interstate commerce laws.

New Jersey continues to register people in its medical marijuana program, which has exploded in size since Murphy took office. The state has also greatly expanded the types of qualifying conditions, which include anxiety, migraines and chronic pain.

Learn more about medical marijuana in New Jersey here.

The state’s medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to sell recreational cannabis from any leftover supplies, but they’re already straining to meet the demand from more than 100,000 registered patients, who must come first under the new laws. None are currently advertising recreational sales on their websites.

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HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

It remains to be seen how much recreational cannabis will cost in New Jersey. If the state’s medical marijuana program is any sign, though, it won’t be cheap.

New Jersey patients have been complaining for years about the price of medical cannabis, which is sold in strictly portioned units and not available in bulk discounts. As of February, an eighth of an ounce cost from $50 to $60 at a dispensary. At that price structure, a full ounce of medical marijuana costs up to $480 at most dispensaries, roughly $135 above the estimated price of “high quality” marijuana on New Jersey’s black market in 2020.

And then there are taxes.

The state will also apply its 6.625 percent sales tax to recreational cannabis purchases. Towns and cities will be able to charge an additional 2 percent tax on any sales.

In addition, the state’s cannabis board will be able to levy an “excise fee” between $10 and $60 an ounce on growers depending upon the retail price, which will likely be passed on to consumers at the cash register.

CAN MY JOB DRUG TEST (OR FIRE) ME?

The state’s new marijuana laws provide limited protection for employees.

New Jersey employers can’t fire or refuse to hire a worker if they use cannabis on their own time. But bosses will still be able to discipline or fire employees if they get high on the job.

Random workplace testing and pre-employment drug screenings will still be allowed.

MARIJUANA 101

There are three main types of cannabis (sativa, indica and hybrid), which are categorized into different “strains.” Some can make people feel energetic and talkative, while others can make them feel sleepy and relaxed.

Many people are familiar with the most common way of consuming cannabis: smoking it in joints, blunts or pipes. But marijuana can also be taken orally in tinctures or eaten in foods such as brownies, a popular option among many medical users who have trouble inhaling it. Some people also opt to “vaporize” their cannabis, a method of heating that uses lower temperatures.

Cannabis can be made into “concentrates” such as hashish, wax or oil, which increases its potency.

It’s difficult to define an average dosage for marijuana, as the drug can have different effects from person to person. The effects usually last anywhere from an hour to six hours.

People using cannabis should do so responsibly. That includes:

• Don’t drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of cannabis (it’s prohibited in New Jersey)
• Keep marijuana products away from children and pets

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