Listen to this articleDespite nearly 70% of voters backing the legalization of marijuana in a 2020 referendum, about 350 of New Jersey’s 564 municipalities still do not participate in the recreational market.
Now the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is seeking feedback from local officials on how they are addressing the idea of legalized operations in their towns. The outreach comes as part of an ongoing effort to help support informed cannabis-related policy decisions.
Through Sept. 30, the CRC has a short online survey available. The questionnaire asks about challenges, successes and lessons learned from communities that have allowed cannabusinesses to open, as well as insights from towns that chose to opt out.
A spokesperson noted that the questionnaire should be answered only by municipal leaders.
“The information collected will be used to inform conversations with towns that have not opted in and to provide the Commission with real-world examples, challenges and lessons learned that will shape future guidance materials and resources for municipalities,” they said.
The spokesperson added, “The NJ-CRC is eager to engage with municipalities and to understand how they are experiencing the state’s cannabis market. We know that we need to be in partnership to ensure safety for consumers, fewer business obstacles, and resources for communities where operators are located. The municipal survey is part of our efforts to have an ongoing conversation with those at the local level.”
By the numbers
Since launching adult-use sales in April 2022, New Jersey now has more than 200 licensed dispensaries across the state.
For the first quarter of 2025, the legalized market for recreational and medicinal marijuana reported $277 million in sales. That’s up from $242 million during the same period a year ago.
Between January through March, recreational sales came in at $263 million. That marked a decline from $277 million during the fourth quarter of 2024. However, it was higher than the $218 million registered in the first quarter of 2024, according to the CRC.
Patient sales for Q1 2025 were $13 million. That’s lower than the $17 million posted in Q4 2024 and the $25 million in Q1 2024.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, the number of enrollees in the state’s medicinal program has declined from 128,548 to the current 55,513.
