Governor Murphy signed the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act into law, legalizing and regulating cannabis use and possession for adults 21 years and older and decriminalizing marijuana and hashish possession, A-1897 (P.L.2021,c.19). The Governor also signed S-3454 (P.L.2021,c.25), clarifying marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for individuals younger than 21 years old.
Medicinal and Recreational Dispensaries
Currently, there are 38 dispensaries open in the state of New Jersey. Of these, 13 are exclusively for medical cannabis patients. There are 29 recreational cannabis dispensaries now open in the state, 28 that have expanded medical cannabis businesses into the recreational marketplace and one recreational-only cannabis retailer.
- According to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), as of April 13, 2023, they have approved98 annual awards for cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and microbusinesses.
- For a rundown of the current dispensaries, visit NJ-CRC's Find a Dispensary directory.
- CRC Regulations answer Frequently Asked Questions for Municipalities on the cannabis market components.
Attorney General's Resources
Attorney General's office maintains the Marijuana Decriminalization & Cannabis Legalization Resource Page intended to provide resources and information for police and prosecutors navigating the laws and policy. The Resource Page provides access to AG Directive 2021-1, governing the dismissals of certain pending marijuana charges, and access to interim guidance for law enforcement officers regarding marijuana decriminalization.
The Attorney General's office has also produced a downloadable Q&A page on Cannabis topics.
Updated: June 27, 2023
