New Jersey’s marijuana regulators finalized regulations allowing marijuana consumption lounges where people can buy and use cannabis on-site.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission voted 4-0 on Wednesday to approve the rules for social use. These rules are expected to appear in the New Jersey Register on Monday.
According to the plan, consumption rooms could not sell alcohol or food, but adults over 21 years old could have food delivered or bring their own food if local authorities allowed it.
Patients who use medical cannabis would be allowed to bring in their own marijuana products.
Businesses will only be allowed to hold one license for social use, no matter how many dispensaries are operated. Microbusinesses would have to pay a fee of $1,000 for a consumption area approval and standard businesses $5,000.
Heady NJ First reported that NJ-CRC chief counsel Christopher Riggs stated, “a few more steps are needed here” before a portal is opened for potential licensees.
The announcement comes one year after , the commission released its first proposed rules for consumption lounges.
Charles Barker, the commissioner of the Department of Commerce, said that the application process would include an “exclusive period for diversely owned and socially equitable businesses.” He called it “a critical component to establish equity and level playing fields.”
Members have also said that they expect cannabis consumption areas to have a positive impact on the economy of the state, by generating additional tax revenue through marijuana sales and fees.
On Wednesday, the commission also approved 70 new licenses for adult-use marijuana, including retailers and manufacturers as well as cultivators, delivery services, and other licensed parties.
Jeff Brown, Executive Director of NJ-CRC, recently predicted that the state will see more than 1 billion dollars in cannabis sales this year due to the increasing number of licensed businesses from which people can buy marijuana.
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Since the opening of shops, the state’s cannabis market has evolved in many other ways. State cannabis regulators began accepting public comments last October regarding proposed rules that would expand edible cannabis products available at licensed retailers. These included beverages, chocolates and baked goods.
The has already waived some requirements for the sale of other marijuana edibles.
The NJ-CRC also considered adopting new regulations that would create a permit that would allow “clinically-focused” cannabis dispensaries enter into partnerships to carry out cannabis research using products they grow or sell patients.
New Jersey legislators are preparing for an active 2024. They have filed over a dozen bill covering interstate marijuana commerce, home grows, banking, and employment protection.
Last month, the governor and state attorney general separately announced the recipients of $5.2 million in hospital-based violence-intervention grants funded with revenue from state-legal marijuana.
Last month, New Jersey also opened applications for its second phase of the marijuana social equity funding program. This will award $150,000 in grants and provide eight weeks of technical support to those who are selected.
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The original post New Jersey Regulators Approve final rules for Marijuana Consumption lounges was first published on Marijuana moment.
