New Jersey’s Green-Thumbed Ladies Now Have a New Hangout Spot: Cannabis Lounges!

New Jersey, the state that brought us the Boss (Bruce Springsteen for the uninitiated), Bon Jovi, and the world’s most famous boardwalk, has now given us another reason to stand up and applaud. It has officially given the green light to cannabis consumption lounges at dispensaries. Yes, you heard it right! The Garden State is now also the “Ganja State”.

In a move that has cannabis enthusiasts doing a happy jig, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) has unanimously passed a set of rules that allow both medicinal dispensaries and recreational-use retailers to establish on-site consumption spaces. It’s like Starbucks, but for cannabis. And yes, it’s as cool as it sounds.

This development is the brainchild of a proposal made in December 2022. It’s a comprehensive rulebook for businesses interested in offering these consumption areas. It’s kind of like the Hogwarts letter, but instead of learning to wave wands, you’re learning how to run a cannabis lounge. The rules, however, are quite clear: each cannabis business can only operate one lounge, no matter how many Class 5 Retailer licenses or Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) dispensary permits they hold. Also, no food is allowed to be sold at these lounges. But hey, you can bring your own munchies or have them delivered. Pizza and pot, anyone?

One of the best parts of these new rules is that medicinal cannabis patients can bring their own cannabis items from other retailers for personal use. It’s like BYOB, but with cannabis. However, the sale of tobacco products and alcohol is a strict no-no. And sorry kids, you need to be at least 21 years old and have photo identification to enter. No fake IDs, please!

Now, onto the nitty-gritty: the licensing fee structure. Microbusiness retailers will be charged $1,000 and standard retailers $5,000, as per the CRC. These endorsements, which are like the golden tickets to run a cannabis lounge, are valid for one year and require annual renewal.

Jeff Brown, the Executive Director of the CRC and the man of the hour, has assured that details on license applications will be available soon. This follows a 60-day public comment period initiated by the CRC, where they probably received a lot of “heck yeahs”. The finalized rules are expected to be published in the New Jersey Register next month, marking their official enactment.

As New Jersey joins the elite club of U.S. states that have embraced on-site cannabis consumption at dispensaries, it’s not just making a statement; it’s setting a precedent. So, here’s to New Jersey, leading the way in progressive cannabis policies. Your move, rest of the U.S.