The locations, which have been serving patients in the Medicinal Cannabis Program, will now open their doors to the broader public.

“We expect 13 locations for the entire state will make for extremely busy stores,” said Jeff Brown, executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. “The dispensaries have assured us that they are ready to meet the demand without disrupting patient access, and with minimal impact on the surrounding communities, but patience will be key to a good opening day.”

Dispensaries are required to put patient access policies in place so that registrants in New Jersey’s Medicinal Cannabis Program do not have to wait on long lines or risk not getting their medicine. Facilities are expected to implement special lines or hours, online ordering, curbside pick-up, or home delivery to ensure patient access is uninterrupted.

Dispensary locations in 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 3^rd Avenue, #3C, Paterson

Dispensary locations in Central Jersey:
Zen Leaf, 117 Sprint Street, Elizabeth
Zen Leaf, 3256 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township

Dispensary locations in 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

Consumers should check the websites of the approved retailers for specific information on hours of operation.

Recreational cannabis customers will be able to buy up to 1 ounce of dried flower or up to 5 grams of concentrates, resins, or oils, or 10 100mg packages of ingestible items in a single transaction.

“We encourage everyone to be safe – buy only from licensed dispensaries and start low and go slow. Remember that the laws against impaired driving apply to being high,” cautioned Brown. “Our guests from neighboring states should remember it is illegal to transport cannabis across state lines.”

Reminders for cannabis consumers

• 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. 

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission establishes and enforces the rules and regulations governing the licensing, cultivation, testing, selling, and purchasing of cannabis in the state.

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