If you’re living in New Jersey, you may already know that marijuana is legal for both recreational and medical use in the state. This means that you’re free to enjoy the many benefits of cannabis without worrying about it being illegal or punishable by arrest. In fact, there are several ways you can benefit from using marijuana legally in New Jersey, including being able to buy it from legal vendors.
Medical Marijuana
The New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program is a state-run program that allows medical patients to access medicinal cannabis. It is administered by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
To get a medical card, you must go through a series of steps. These include registering with the state, establishing a relationship with a licensed physician, and paying a fee.
In order to qualify, you must have an approved condition. This can be an ailment such as cancer, Tourette syndrome, chronic pain, or anxiety. You must also undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed physician.
Once you receive the doctor’s recommendation, you may begin to purchase marijuana. You can purchase up to three ounces of cannabis per month. However, terminally ill and hospice patients do not have a monthly limit.
The process for obtaining a medical marijuana card in New Jersey is not that different from that in other states. To apply, you’ll need to submit a patient reference number, pay a $50 registration fee, and undergo an evaluation by a licensed physician.
Recreational Marijuana
New Jersey is one of 18 states that have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. Adults in New Jersey can legally purchase the herb, although it is subject to a sales tax of 6.625%. There are still some details to be worked out. For now, the law says people must be at least 21 years old to buy it.
The law is designed to make it easier to legalize marijuana and to ensure that it does not harm public safety. It also decriminalizes the personal use of small amounts of pot.
One key factor that must be accounted for in the policymaking process is the negative externalities of marijuana. As more and more states start legalizing it, policymakers must consider the social impacts of the drug.
While the law allows adults to carry six ounces of the herb, it is illegal to smoke it on public streets. That includes on a bridge.
Cannabis Prices
New Jersey’s legal marijuana industry is still in its infancy, but the state’s cannabis prices are already among the highest in the country. Experts are blaming high local taxes, real estate costs, and the rigid regulatory hurdles that weed has to face. But the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission is hoping the price will go down as more dispensaries open.
There are two main reasons for the cost increase: high local taxes and high real estate costs. However, experts say the higher prices are a result of an imbalance between supply and demand.
“There’s an imbalance of supply and demand, and we are approaching a point in time where we’re at the peak,” said attorney Charles Gormally, an expert on cannabis law. The state tax on cannabis is 0.3% of the total state tax revenue, while the tax on retail sales is $20 per capita.
According to a report by Bloomberg Law, it’s now easier to get marijuana in NYC. Prices are now lower than in Massachusetts.
Social Equity Excise Fee
When New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis, it also implemented a “social equity excise fee.” This is an additional tax that cannabis cultivators must pay. Depending on the average price of the marijuana, the fee can range from $10 to $60.
The Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) is imposed on cannabis cultivators and sellers. Cultivators are liable to pay the fee on each usable ounce of cannabis that they sell. The fee is deposited into a fund that will help support social equity activities.
Since legalization, the Social Equity Excise Fee has raised $225,000. Those funds have been distributed to communities that have been impacted by the War on Drugs. In the coming years, the state intends to invest more in these areas.
The New Jersey Legislature has proposed that 70 percent of cannabis sales and use tax revenues go towards initiatives that address disparities. These funds will be used to fund grants, loans, and other financial considerations.
