Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

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 (Cannabis rules may be found in Title 17, chapters 30 and 30A.) Highlights of the new rules are available here.

Proposal and Register Citation Title End of Comment Period

Link to submit public comments

October 16, 2023

55 N.J.R. 2175(a) 

Adult-Use Cannabis Rules

The Commission is proposing to add new rules allowing additional ingestible forms of cannabis.

Proposed Amendments:  N.J.A.C. 17:30-11.3, 11.56, 11.11, 11.12, and 16.3

Key components of the proposed edible rules will enhance variety, safety, and quality of edible products. The rules expand to include ingredients the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally regards as safe but prohibits the inclusion of harmful substances. In addition, ingestible products will only include shelf-stable, ready to use items that cannot require cooking, baking, or storage in sterile environments.

 The public comment period closed on Friday, December 15, 2023.

August 7, 2023

55 N.J.R. 1670(a)

Adult-Use Cannabis Rules

Proposed amendments regarding Clinical Registrants: N.J.A.C. 17:30A-1.2 and 7.1

The proposed rules pertain to the permitting and operation of clinical registrants, which are clinically focused alternative treatment centers.  Clinical registrants must be partnered with an academic medical center in the region to conduct research on medicinal cannabis and its applications - in addition to cultivating, manufacturing, and dispensing medicinal cannabis and medicinal cannabis products to qualifying patients and designated and institutional caregivers. 

The public comment period was closed on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Adoption - Comments & Responses here 55 N.J.R. 1670(a).

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 55 N.J.R.

Highlights of the proposed Cannabis Consumption Area rules

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

Adoption - Comments & Responses here 55 N.J.R. 100(a).

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 54 N.J.R.

Highlights of the proposed changes and additions.

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

Adoption - Comments & Responses here 54 N.J.R. 1470(a).

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.   

Cannabis laws and regulations in New Jersey are developed through a structured process that guarantees public input and compliance with legislative requirements. The following flowchart illustrates how cannabis laws are created or amended.

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 cannabis

Adult-Use (Recreational) cannabis

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. 
Gavel and Cannabis : PHOTO
Cannabis