New Jersey allows sales of marijuana for recreational purposes

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has allowed the recreational sale of marijuana in the state from April 21st. The commission has granted permission to seven companies in the state to sell cannabis for recreational purposes. The companies will sell recreational weed at 13 locations in New Jersey. By allowing the recreational sale of marijuana, New Jersey has become the 19th state in the United States to do so.

Although only seven companies have been allowed to sell recreational weed in the initial phase, more firms are expected to get the approval in the coming times.

Notably, marijuana costs a lot, be it for medicinal purposes or recreational purposes. According to a recent report by NJ.com, the raw bud product of marijuana called "flower" costs from $320 to $480 for patients in New Jersey. The cost of marijuana is higher in New Jersey than in other states located on the West Coast. Experts say that high taxes, real estate and supply costs are the primary reasons for the increased prices of marijuana in New Jersey.


The prices are not controlled by the state; however, several state and local taxes are levied on marijuana sales, adding to its cost. Currently, a state sales tax of 6.625 per cent is being levied on all sales of marijuana in New Jersey. Besides, all marijuana transactions are subject to a social equity excise fee of a third of a per cent. However, the overall price of marijuana depends on its size and quality. Some experts believe that the prices of marijuana in New Jersey will decline following an increase in its supply and sales at more locations.

Meanwhile, the minimum age to buy marijuana in the state has been set at 21 years. All people in the state, be a resident or a tourist, will be allowed to purchase weed in New Jersey, provided that their age is 21 or more. However, the commission has clarified that transporting marijuana from New Jersey to other places will be illegal.