First New Jersey Marijuana Consumption Lounges Get Official Approval In ‘Major Milestone’

New Jersey regulators have announced that they’ve awarded the state’s first
four marijuana consumption lounge endorsements in another “milestone” for
its cannabis program.

After going through three application rounds—starting with social equity
applicants, then diversely owned businesses and finally opening it to all
licensees—the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) said on
Tuesday that it’s now granted four initial consumption lounge endorsements.

“This is a major milestone in New Jersey’s cannabis industry. These
designated spaces provide consumers with safe and legal options for
cannabis consumption,” NJ-CRC Chairwoman Dianna Houenou said in a press
release.

“Whether individuals cannot consume cannabis inside their homes or simply
wish to consume cannabis legally and responsibly, these areas provide a
practical solution,” she said. “We are proud to support this next phase of
safe-use infrastructure in our state.”

At the meeting on Monday at which NJ-CRC approved the endorsements, the
chair called the action “a long time coming.”

The four approved businesses—High Rollers Dispensary, SunnyTien Dispensary,
Gynsyng and URB’N Dispensary—come from the application pool from the
diversely owned licensee category.

“Approved consumption area endorsement holders are expected to uphold
rigorous standards to ensure that consumption areas remain secure,
well-managed, and compliant with state law,” the commission said.

This comes about two weeks after NJ-CRC opened up applications to operate
cannabis consumption lounges from all licensed marijuana dispensaries.

In January, officials first started accepting applications from social
equity marijuana licensees before opening it up to diversely owned
businesses and microbusinesses in April.

The endorsement application fee is $1,000, consisting of $200 for the
initial submission and another $800 that would be paid upon approval. There
are also annual licensing fees in the amount of $1,000 for microbusinesses
and $5,000 for standard businesses.


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Under the rules, consumption lounges cannot sell food or alcohol, but
adults 21 and older can bring food or have it delivered if the local
government allows it. Medical cannabis patients would be able to bring
their own marijuana products.

NJ-CRC members have said they expect the addition of cannabis consumption
areas will have a positive economic benefit for the state by generating
more tax revenue from marijuana sales and annual fees.

Meanwhile, New Jersey officials recently completed the curriculum of a
no-cost marijuana training academy that’s meant to support entrepreneurs
interested in entering the cannabis industry.

Separately, New Jersey Senate President Nick Scutari (D) recently filed a
bill that would re-criminalize purchasing marijuana from unlicensed sources—one
of the latest attempts to crack down on the illicit market and steer adults
toward licensed retailers.

In March, a former New Jersey Senate leader unsuccessfully ran for the
Democratic gubernatorial nomination this year said “it is time” to give
medical marijuana patients an option to grow their own cannabis plants for
personal use. He also pledged to expand clemency for people impacted by
marijuana criminalization if elected, and he expressed support for the
establishment of cannabis consumption lounges.

The comments from Steve Sweeney, who was the longest-serving Senate
president in the state’s history, on home grow depart from what current
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has said on multiple occasions, arguing that the
state’s adult-use marijuana market needs to further mature before home grow
is authorized.

Seemingly contradicting that claim, dozens of New Jersey small marijuana
businesses and advocacy groups recently called on the legislature to allow
adults to cultivate their own cannabis.

*Photo courtesy of Martin Alonso.*

The post First New Jersey Marijuana Consumption Lounges Get Official
Approval In ‘Major Milestone’ appeared first on Marijuana Moment.