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Cannabis Regulatory Commission

Cannabis Related Laws

The Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act provides the framework for the medicinal use of cannabis in New Jersey.  The Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act does the same for recreational use and includes the establishment of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The Personal-Use Cannabis Rules (N.J.A.C 17:30) were last updated/amended effective March 6, 2023. Highlights of the new rules are available here.

Proposal and Register Citation Title End of Comment Period Link to submit public comments

January 17, 2023

55 N.J.R. 100(a)

Adult-Use Cannabis Rules

NJ-CRC Rules with proposed amendments regarding cannabis consumption areas: N.J.A.C. 17:30

Highlights of the proposed Cannabis Consumption Area rules

 The public comment period was closed on Saturday, March 18, 2023

August 1, 2022

54 N.J.R. 1470(a)

Adult-Use Cannabis Rules

Proposed Readoption of Specially Adopted New Rules with Amendments: N.J.A.C. 17:30

Highlights of the proposed changes and additions.

 The public comment period was closed on Friday, September 30, 2022.

Note: LexisNexis provides free online public access to the New Jersey Adminstrative Code and the New Jersey Register.

The role of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC)

The CRC was created to establish rules and regulations governing the sale and purchase of recreational cannabis, to administer the state’s medicinal cannabis program, and to oversee licensing for all areas of the cannabis industry.   

The role of municipalities

Municipalities determine their own regulations and zoning ordinances governing the number, type, and operations of cannabis businesses within their borders. The CRC will not issue a license that would be in violation of a local ordinance or regulation.

Contact your municipality to verify local regulations.

Medicinal Program rules

Recreation business rules

Federal Law

The Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq., prohibits the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana, for any reason, regardless of state law. New Jersey’s cannabis regulations conflict with Federal law, however “States are not required to enforce [Federal] law or prosecute people for engaging in activities prohibited by [Federal] law; therefore, compliance with [the Act] does not put the State of New Jersey in violation of [Federal] law,” and N.J.S.A. 24:6I-54 further directs law enforcement in New Jersey to not cooperate with federal agencies enforcing The Controlled Substances Act for activities solely authorized by the Act. 

United States Attorneys are instructed to focus on the following eight enforcement interests in prioritizing the prosecution of Federal laws criminalizing marijuana-related activity:  

  1. Preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors;
  2. Preventing revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels;
  3. Preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;
  4. Preventing state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;
  5. Preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana;
  6. Preventing drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use;
  7. Preventing the growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands; and 
  8. Preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property. 

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