On Thursday morning, the Apothecarium in Maplewood, New Jersey was one of just 12 dispensaries in the state where residents could legally purchase adult-use cannabis for the first time. New Jersey residents first voted “yes” on a legalization referendum in November 2020, and have been waiting for this day ever since.
“It feels good, it’s a long time coming,” said a man who goes by “DJ Millz. “It should have happened decades ago.” He waited for over two hours in line for the shop to open Thursday morning.
New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) gave the final approval last week for dispensaries already selling medical cannabis to sell recreational cannabis as well. While all adults 21 and older will now be able to purchase cannabis, the CRC strongly emphasized that these dispensaries should prioritize medical patients.
“Expansion into the adult-use market – with a substantial advantageous start ahead of new applicants – is a privilege that must not be taken lightly,” said CRC Chair Dianna Houenou on April 11, when the CRC awarded licenses to the medical dispensaries. “We expect these ATCs [alternative treatment centers] to uphold their promises to patients and communities; and that recreational customers will be adequately served.”
On Tuesday, Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis spoke of the importance of medical cannabis in his community.
“New Jersey continues to prioritize medical patients above recreational use, which I think is the right thing to do, because access to health care remains for those who need cannabis who are facing life threatening illnesses,” Dafis said.
At the Apothecarium on Thursday, measures were taken to ensure medical patients could be prioritized.
Customers waited in line for as long as two hours Thursday morning to be let into the Apothecarium in Maplewood, New Jersey. (Credit: Elizabeth Maline)
“This dispensary in particular was built in a way that we can have two separate areas for patients and customers,” Chantelle Elsner, SVP of Retail Operations for TerrAscend, a global cannabis company that owns the Apothecarium, said on Thursday morning, outside of the shop. “We have two separate entrances, we have dedicated registers, we’re prioritizing their line inside as well as outside, and they also get the full menu, and the red carpet rollout just like they’re used to.”
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This story was originally published on NY City Lens.
By Elizabeth Maline and Liz Brewer
APR 21, 2022 10:43PM EDT
Image Credit:
- ELIZABETH MALINE
Source : CANNABISWIRE
Link to original : “A long time coming”: New Jersey Launches Adult-use Cannabis Sales 17 Months After Legalization
