Alright, folks, buckle up and get your lighters ready because the top cannabis regulator in New Jersey, Jeff Brown, has something to say. He’s boldly claiming that in 2024, New Jersey will not only reach but surpass a whopping $1 billion in annual cannabis sales. And he’s saying this with the same confidence as someone predicting the sun will rise tomorrow! All this while he pours a bucket of icy reality on the hopes of federal legalization happening “anytime soon.”
As the executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), Brown is not just blowing smoke. During a public hearing on Thursday, he laid out his plan to make the Garden State’s marijuana industry as competitive as a high school spelling bee. He’s got some tricks up his sleeve, like expanding edible offerings at retailers. Because who doesn’t love a good pot brownie, right?
Brown believes these proposed regulations on edibles would provide an “added level of consumer safety and accountability.” That’s right, folks. He’s not just looking out for your munchies; he’s also got your back. These Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) provisions are just like the ones in some federal marijuana legalization bills.
Meanwhile, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and his regulators are popping the champagne this week. They’re celebrating the opening of more than 100 medical and recreational dispensaries. It’s like Starbucks, but for weed! Brown is confident that these steps will help New Jersey’s 2024 marijuana sales soar past the $1 billion mark.
And if you thought they were done, think again. The state’s adult-use market launched just under two years ago, but these guys have been as busy as bees. They’ve been working on rules for expanded edible product offerings, and even rules to allow for cannabis consumption lounges. Imagine that, a lounge where you can legally light up!
NJ-CRC is also considering new rules that would create a permit to allow “clinically focused” cannabis dispensaries to partner with research institutions. This would let them conduct cannabis studies using the products they grow or sell to patients. It’s like a science fair, but way cooler.
And as if that wasn’t enough, New Jersey lawmakers are preparing for a busy 2024. They’re filing bills left and right, tackling issues like marijuana interstate commerce, home grow, banking, and employment protections. They’re covering all bases, like a baseball team in the World Series.
Last December, 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. Talk about giving back to the community!
And just when you thought they were done, New Jersey opened applications for the second phase of a marijuana social equity funding program. This will award $150,000 grants and offer eight weeks of technical assistance. It’s like winning the lottery, but for weed enthusiasts!
So, New Jersey, get ready. 2024 is going to be a big year for cannabis. And remember, you heard it here first!
New Jersey: The Land of Weed…But Not Weed Gardens?
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