Is Marijuana Legal in New Jersey? (2023 Update)

This is a complete guide to buying marijuana in New Jersey. We cover the legal status of weed for recreational and medicinal use, home-grow laws, transportation issues, public consumption, and federally legal alternatives to weed.

Marijuana is legal in New Jersey for all adults 21+. If you live or stay in New Jersey, you can use weed recreationally or as a patient.
The new law allows possessing up to 1 ounce of cannabis for recreational use.
Commercial marijuana sales began on April 21, 2022.
Adults can also share or gift cannabis to each other.
Medical marijuana patients can purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis within 30 days.
It’s illegal to grow weed in New Jersey, even if you’re a patient.
Hemp-derived delta 8 THC is legal in New Jersey. The state regulations align with the 2018 Farm Bill.
Hemp-derived delta 8 THC products must contain no more than 0.3% delta 9 THC to be legal in New Jersey.

Is Weed Legal in New Jersey?

Yes. If you’re an adult 21+, you can legally buy weed in New Jersey for both recreational and medicinal use. However, there are different regulations depending on which type of user you are.

Is Recreational Marijuana Legal in New Jersey?

Marijuana has been legal in New Jersey for Recreational use since the 2020 election, and cannabis possession became legal for adults on February 22, 2021.

Commercial sales were launched on April 21, 2022. Recreational users can buy up to one ounce of flower or its equivalent in other products and possess up to 6 ounces. Adults can also gift up to one ounce of cannabis to each other.

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in New Jersey?

Yes. Now that recreational marijuana is legal in New Jersey, patients are wondering whether or not they should keep their medical marijuana cards.

Your medical marijuana card is still viable, and you have access to different products on top of recreational cannabis. Medical marijuana is fully exempt from sales tax.

The renewal of a medical marijuana card costs $100. The cost will be lower if you spend about $65 on cannabis each month.

Penalties for Marijuana Possession

Recreational users are subject to certain possession limits; they can buy up to one ounce of weed and, as mentioned, possess up to 6 ounces.

If you’re caught with more than 6 ounces of marijuana, you’ll be charged with a crime and risk a maximum of 1.5 years in prison on top of a $25,000 fine.

Is Weed Decriminalized in New Jersey?

Yes. As long as you abide by the rules regarding the possession of marijuana for recreational use, you won’t even receive a ticket.

Delta 8 THC: A Better and Federally Legal Alternative to Marijuana in New Jersey

Not everybody enjoys the intense effects of delta 9 THC from marijuana. People have been looking for milder alternatives to weed for quite some time, but recent advancements in extraction methods have gotten them spoiled for choice now.

Delta 8 THC is making waves in the cannabis community. It’s a milder isomer of delta 9, meaning it has a strikingly similar molecular structure — but it comes with subtle differences in a way it gets you high.

And the best part about delta 8 is that it can be extracted from hemp, making it legal at the federal level.

But why do some people choose to avoid delta 9 THC? Let’s answer this question before we explain how delta 8 THC works and what its benefits are.

Cons of Delta 9 THC From Marijuana

Delta 9 THC has a biphasic nature. In low and moderate doses, it makes you feel relaxed, relieved from stress and physical discomfort, and it can improve your cognitive performance.

Higher doses make you feel high, causing giggles, euphoria, and hunger and altering your thinking patterns, perception of time, and attention.

But not everybody responds well to high doses of THC. If you’re sensitive to psychedelic compounds, a more significant amount of delta 9 THC can trigger feelings of unease and a few physiological reactions.

The side effects of delta 9 THC include:

Anxiety
Paranoia
Feelings of discomfort
Cold sweats
Dizziness
Confusion
Increased heart rate
Short-term memory problems

Here’s why delta 8 THC is on everyone’s tongues right now.

Effects and Benefits of Delta 8 THC

Delta 8 and delta 9 are different versions of the THC molecule. They come with a similar chemical formula, but their atomic bonds are arranged differently.

Delta 8 THC has a double bond at the eighth carbon chain, while for delta 9 THC, this bond is located at the ninth chain.

This subtle difference makes the delta 8 high experience twice less potent as delta 9 THC.

In plain English, you’d need to take twice as much delta 8 to experience the same intensity of effects as with marijuana.

Delta 8 also has a lower risk of triggering anxiety and paranoia, which is why some people choose it instead of regular weed.

People use delta 8 THC for the same benefits as delta 9, including:

Anti-nausea
Anti-inflammatory
Pain relief
Increased appetite
Feelings of calmness and relaxation
Neuroprotection

Is Delta 8 THC Legal in New Jersey?

Yes. delta 8 THC is legal in New Jersey as long as it comes from hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and its derivatives at the federal level, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, isomers, and salts of isomers.

Just two years after the passing of the Farm Bill, manufacturers discovered a way to extract usable amounts of delta 8 THC from hemp while keeping the delta 9 THC content below 0.3%, as required by federal law.

14 states have currently banned delta 8 products, but fortunately, New Jersey isn’t one of them. You can legally buy hemp-derived delta 8 THC locally and online.

Benefits of Buying Delta 8 THC Online

Buying delta 8 THC locally in New Jersey sounds like a convenient idea, especially if you have some vape shops or hemp stores near you.

However, since the delta 8 space is largely unregulated, shopping online rather than in-store is better.

Why?

Well, first of all, online retailers offer lower prices on the same products because they can cut out the middleman. You can also benefit from seasonal discounts, reward programs, subscription orders, and bulk pricing to save even more money on high-quality extracts.

Speaking of quality, you can easily verify the credibility of your vendor by looking into the certificate of analysis (CoAs), reading the company’s “About Us” section, checking customer reviews on third-party websites, and reaching out to other users on social media platforms or forums like Reddit.

Not to mention that you can compare dozens of formulas and their prices in the comfort of your home — it’s a huge time-saver.

Best Online Delta 8 THC Stores

If you want to enjoy high-quality delta 8 THC products in New Jersey, you must devote a significant amount of time researching your options.

The products should be sourced from organic hemp, extracted without hazardous solvents, and free from synthetic additives to ensure safety.

Feeling in a hurry? Here are the top two premium brands that I’ve been using for the past two years with great results. Both companies are highly transparent and provide batch-specific lab reports to prove the quality of their products; I can recommend them with a clear conscience.

1. Area 52

Get 15% off all Area 52 products. Use code “CFAH” at checkout.

See Lowest Price

Area 52 is a Nevada-based manufacturer of cannabinoid extracts. The company made big headlines in the industry when it introduced its first line of premium delta 8 THC products from pure distillate.

You can choose from products like tinctures, gummies, vape carts, and pre-rolled joints infused with delta 8.

Each format is enriched with terpenes to leverage the synergy between cannabis compounds and increase the potency of the end product. Depending on the blend of terpenes, these products are more energizing or sedating.

Area 52 has recently branched out its selection with a line of “true full-spectrum” products, including Energy, Sleep, and Immunity gummies, CBD oil, HHC gummies, and delta 8 THC honey sticks.

Every product from Area 52 is rigorously tested for potency and contaminants in an ISO-certified laboratory.

2. Finest Labs

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Finest Labs is my go-to recommendation if you’re buying delta 8 THC in New Jersey for the first time. The company offers a more humble selection than Area 52, but its formulas are mastered to perfection.

With Finest Labs, you can enjoy delta 8 THC in the form of tinctures, gummies, and vape carts. The vapes and gummies are infused with strain-specific terpenes to recreate the experience of certain cannabis cultivars.

On top of that, the brand offers HHC gummies, Energy gummies with CBG and Vitamin B12, and a broad range of botanical terpenes — both single options and special blends.

FAQs

Who Can Use Medical Marijuana in New Jersey?

New Jersey has a medical marijuana program for patients with qualifying conditions.

You need to be diagnosed with one of the following medical conditions to receive a medical marijuana card:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Anxiety
Cancer
Chronic pain
Dysmenorrhea
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Intractable skeletal spasticity
Migraine
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular dystrophy
Opioid Use Disorder
HIV/AIDS
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Tourette Syndrome
Terminal illness with a prognosis of less than one year to live.

Can You Grow Weed in New Jersey?

No. Growing weed is illegal in New Jersey. You can’t grow your own plants even if you’re a medical marijuana patient.

Can You Smoke Marijuana in Public?

New Jersey permits indoor and outdoor consumption in designated places, such as cannabis lounges for both medical and recreational users. You can also consume marijuana on private properties.

Traveling With Marijuana in New Jersey

It’s legal to travel with marijuana in New Jersey, but it shouldn’t be close to the driver; it’s also wise to keep your cannabis in a closed container.

You can’t, however, travel with marijuana between states, even if weed is legal in both. Federal law considers cross-state transportation of cannabis drug trafficking; you can be harshly penalized for committing this felony.

Penalties for marijuana trafficking include 5 years in jail and up to $250,000 in fines if you’re caught with less than 50 kg of marijuana or fewer than 50 plants.

It’s also illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis. Registered marijuana patients can’t be prosecuted for being under the influence if they have cannabis metabolites in their system.

The penalties for DUI depend on the offender’s history, usually ranging between $250 and $450 in fines. You’ll also have your driver’s license suspended and can face up to 30 days in jail if that’s your first offense.

Can You Buy Weed Online in New Jersey?

Yes, buying weed online is a legit option in New Jersey. You can order marijuana for delivery or pick it up later at the dispensary to avoid standing in lines.

Is CBD Oil From Hemp Legal in New Jersey?

Yes. CBD is legal in New Jersey. As long as they contain 0.3% or less delta 9 THC, you can legally buy CBD oils, gummies, vapes, topicals, and other health supplements.

The 2018 Farm Bill excluded hemp from the list of controlled substances. Hemp plants became an agricultural commodity once again; farmers can grow and sell them for any purpose, from clothing, ropes, and construction materials to biofuel, paper, food, and botanical extracts like CBD oil.

CBD oil from hemp is available without a prescription. You can find it in local stores or online. I recommend getting your CBD oil from a trustworthy online store for the same reasons I recommend doing so with delta 8 products — lower prices and a better research toolset.

Buying Weed in New Jersey: Bottom Line

New Jersey is one of the best states for cannabis aficionados. Both medical and recreational marijuana are legal; you can order weed online for delivery, and the product range in dispensaries can please even demanding consumers.

As of this writing, it’s illegal to grow cannabis at home, even as a medical marijuana patient. You also can’t carry more than 6 ounces of weed or its equivalent in concentrates, edibles, and liquids.

If you’re looking for a federally legal alternative to marijuana, consider buying hemp-derived delta 8 THC in New Jersey. delta 8 THC is less psychoactive than delta 9, offers a smoother and less anxious buzz, and you’re not subject to any possession limits with this cannabinoid.

Just make sure to source your products from trusted manufacturers who can provide relevant lab reports and are transparent about their production practices.

Is Weed Legal in New Jersey? NJ Cannabis Laws (June 2023)

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