On January 1, 2021, an amendment legalizing cannabis became part of the New Jersey state constitution. This significant change was further solidified on February 22, 2021, when Governor Phil Murphy signed enabling legislation and related bills into law, marking a new era in the state’s approach to cannabis. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act plays a crucial role in this transformation.
Under the CREAMM Act, adults aged 21 years or older are permitted to purchase, carry, and use cannabis legally. This act brings clarity to the often interchangeable use of the terms “cannabis” and “marijuana.” Following the November 2020 election, Article IV, section VII, paragraph 12 of the New Jersey State Constitution introduced a legal distinction between these two terms.
Regulated cannabis, when bought, sold, and used under specific conditions, is considered fully legal in New Jersey. This regulatory framework is overseen by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), which is also seeking public comment on rules to expand the types of ingestible cannabis products.
The laws, regulations, and guidelines governing the Medicinal Marijuana Program in New Jersey include the A20 Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act of July 2019 and the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (CUMMA) of January 2010. These laws underline the state’s commitment to providing access to medical cannabis for those in need.
Medical cannabis and employment continue to be a complex issue. References such as N.J.S.A. C.24:6I-6.1 in the Jake Honig Act and the 2020 New Jersey Supreme Court case Wild v Carriage Funeral Holdings Inc. shed light on this intricate subject. For medical treatment, patients can receive cannabis orders of up to 84 grams every 30-day period, filled at state-licensed Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) or dispensaries.
For more detailed information, please refer to the official resources listed below:
- New Jersey’s Adult-Use Cannabis Rules
- Legal Cannabis in New Jersey PDF
- New Jersey Cannabis FAQ
- General Cannabis FAQs
- New Jersey Office of the Attorney General – Marijuana Decriminalization
- Cannabis Related Laws in New Jersey
- Cannabis Regulatory Commission Homepage
- Governor Murphy’s Cannabis Reform Bills Announcement
- Medicinal Cannabis Patient FAQs
- New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program
