Where are the New Jersey edibles? Why you can't buy edibles in NJ
#Recreational sales have finally started in the state of New #Jersey. Two years after citizens of the #Garden #State took to the polls and called for #cannabis #legalization, the first #recreational cannabis #dispensaries opened their doors to the #public just a few weeks ago on April 21, 2022. Since then, it's been clear that recreational cannabis sales are a hit. Around 12,000 people purchased legal cannabis products from the state's 12 open dispensaries on the first day alone, spending about $2 million in the process, according to the New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory #Commission. What recreational buyers in the Garden State still can't get their hands on, however, are cannabis-infused #edibles. The law doesn't allow brownies, #gummies, #cookies, or any other cannabis products “resembling food."
But why are cannabis-infused food items still off-limits in Jersey? And what exactly counts as an edible and what doesn't?
#NewJersey's statute is very clear about what forms of cannabis are allowed. Legal cannabis is broken down into two simple categories: ingestible cannabis products and inhalable cannabis products. Edibles are not currently included in the ingestible cannabis category. As the New Jersey state law is written currently, the only forms of non-smokable cannabis products legally available for recreational consumers are products like tablets, pills, #syrups, and #tinctures. That means that the #THC-infused candies, beverages, and pastry-style treats that can be found in dispensaries in states like #Colorado, #California, and #Oregon are not legal.
The part of the legislation that outlaws products like pot brownies, cookies, and cakes from being sold in dispensaries is about as clear as it gets. It says cannabis products sold in NJ dispensaries can't resemble “commercially #manufactured or trademarked" food products or any animals, characters, #fruit, and other artistic imagery. So, for now, the law does not allow for the manufacturing and selling of cannabis edibles. Lawmakers have said they wrote this language into the legalization bill for two reasons.
First, state-level lawmakers cited concerns about minors getting their hands on THC-laced products. The second factor is the lack of testing facilities. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission doesn't have the capacity to test the potency and purity of commercially produced cannabis edibles while setting statewide health and safety standards. While it's clear that the state has reasons for not allowing the sale of recreational edibles, the stats show that New Jersey is missing out on a lot of #profit.
But why are cannabis-infused food items still off-limits in Jersey? And what exactly counts as an edible and what doesn't?
#NewJersey's statute is very clear about what forms of cannabis are allowed. Legal cannabis is broken down into two simple categories: ingestible cannabis products and inhalable cannabis products. Edibles are not currently included in the ingestible cannabis category. As the New Jersey state law is written currently, the only forms of non-smokable cannabis products legally available for recreational consumers are products like tablets, pills, #syrups, and #tinctures. That means that the #THC-infused candies, beverages, and pastry-style treats that can be found in dispensaries in states like #Colorado, #California, and #Oregon are not legal.
The part of the legislation that outlaws products like pot brownies, cookies, and cakes from being sold in dispensaries is about as clear as it gets. It says cannabis products sold in NJ dispensaries can't resemble “commercially #manufactured or trademarked" food products or any animals, characters, #fruit, and other artistic imagery. So, for now, the law does not allow for the manufacturing and selling of cannabis edibles. Lawmakers have said they wrote this language into the legalization bill for two reasons.
First, state-level lawmakers cited concerns about minors getting their hands on THC-laced products. The second factor is the lack of testing facilities. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission doesn't have the capacity to test the potency and purity of commercially produced cannabis edibles while setting statewide health and safety standards. While it's clear that the state has reasons for not allowing the sale of recreational edibles, the stats show that New Jersey is missing out on a lot of #profit.