It’s quite amazing and exciting. If I’m pulled over on my way home and asked if there are any drugs in the vehicle, I can now say “Only this,”” Barrows stated, holding the marijuana flower from his newly purchased canister. Although possession of cannabis is legal in New Jersey, driving while under the influence is still illegal.
Barrows, 60 years old, was among a steady stream that included novelty seekers, long-time marijuana users, and medical patients at RISE Bloomfield in Bloomfield. It is located near Newark, the state’s largest city, and not far away from New York City.
New Jersey’s cannabis kickoff was a celebration of 21-and-olders. There was soul music blasting, free doughnuts in a parking lot, a steel drum, and a balloon arch at its entrance. It had more the feeling of a fair than a store opening.
Hagan Seeley (23 years old) said that he just discovered recreational sales had begun a day before and decided to check out the scene. The venue was decorated with an antique train station-style toteboard and long wooden tables that featured products under glass globes.
It feels right. It’s safe. It’s everything you want, and more than anything you can get elsewhere,” Seeley stated.
A week after Democratic Gov., the recreational cannabis market was launched. Phil Murphy announced that seven “alternative therapy centers” which had previously offered medical cannabis had been cleared by state regulators to allow recreational sales. These seven centers manage 13 facilities in the state.
Murphy, who supports recreational marijuana legalization for many years and signed the bill to create the market, was present at ZenLeaf Elizabeth for the first day of recreational cannabis sales. According to Murphy, he won’t be trying marijuana. He stated earlier this week that it wasn’t his “thing” and that Scotch is his preferred choice. Murphy stated that he would push for a federal fix for marijuana, but it wasn’t clear if he meant recreational legalization, national criminalization or some other type of solution.
Hadi Battice (47), is a Navy veteran who holds a medical marijuana card for post-traumatic stress disorder. He is a ZenLeaf regular and stated that he has never seen ZenLeaf as busy as Thursday.
New Jersey’s recreational marijuana law gives preference status to people of colour for dispensary licenses. This will help break down the “brick walls” that people have faced for many years in the war on drugs. Battice stated that this fact will be a significant step towards removing those brick walls. “It’s high time minorities, people with disabilities, Black people, and brown people had a chance to enter the cannabis business.
Charles Pfeiffer waited in line for 2.5 hours. He claimed that he believed he was first recreational customer to purchase at ZenLeaf. When he was allowed into the shop, he cheered and raised his hands in the air.
He bought cannabis candy and flower for $140, and joked about how fast he would need to come back to purchase more.
He said, “I’ll return tomorrow.” “I am kidding, probably within one week.”
Destiny Pimentel, a ZenLeaf employee, said that she realized the “benefits” of responsible cannabis usage after her brother’s death. She said that she is less anxious when she consumes cannabis and can concentrate more easily. She said that she is committed to showing others how cannabis can be used to have a successful career.
New Jersey is one of 18 states plus the District of Columbia that have legalized recreational marijuana. New Jersey is one of the 37 states that have legalized medical cannabis.
New Jersey is the first state to offer recreational sales.
New York is moving forward with its recreational market, but it is not expected that sales will begin until the end of this year, according to state officials.
Pennsylvania, a neighboring state, has legalized recreational cannabis. In March, Delaware’s legislation to allow recreational marijuana was repealed.
Ben Kovler of Green Thumb Industries was present at the Bloomfield dispensary’s opening on Thursday. He stated that he expected demand to increase since the news of the sales launch had been only known for one week.
He said, “It’s an opportunity in American history where prohibit 2.0 is lifted,” before the opening.
The facilities informed regulators that they would not stop medical marijuana patients from accessing their facility in order to get regulatory approval.
TerrAscend’s Ziad Ghanem stated that the centers will initially offer a narrower menu for recreational users to make it easier to accommodate patients.
They must also meet social equity standards. These include providing technical knowledge to new cannabis businesses and social equity applicants, particularly those who are located in economically distressed areas of the state or have been convicted of cannabis-related crimes.
New Jersey’s tax revenue is expected to rise, although it’s unclear by how much. Murphy’s budget for fiscal year 2023 is currently before the Legislature. It estimates revenue of $19 million in a budget that amounts to nearly $49 billion.
The recreational market legislation requires that the 6.625% sales taxes be applied. 70% of proceeds will go to areas most affected by marijuana-related arrests. Black residents were three times more likely to be charged with marijuana offenses than those of white heritage. A tax can be imposed by towns of up to 2 percent.
Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin reminded the police in a memo that marijuana unregulated remains an illegal substance.
According to state regulators, dispensaries can sell up to 1 ounce of marijuana. This is 5 grams of concentrate, an ounce dried cannabis or 1,000 mgs of edibles like gummies. Perishable items such as cookies and brownies cannot be sold.
