There are no tie-dye shirts, dancing bears, or blacklight posters. This isn’t your old-fashion head shop.
Step inside any dispensary that opened for recreational weed sales in New Jersey on Thursday and you might be surprised at the classy and organized experience.
Touch-screen kiosks for advance ordering. Separate lines and clearly-marked signs for medical or adult-use customers. A checkout counter that looks like a bank and customer service that makes you feel like you’re at an Apple store.
This is what legal recreational weed in New Jersey looks like.
Around the state, a dozen alternative treatment center locations began legal adult-use sales. At each location hundreds of people waited in line, in some instances since midnight, to be among the first to buy.
“Today really is a huge day,” said Edmund DeVeaux, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association who was at The Botanist’s opening in Williamstown. “Most people I’m sure in their minds are thinking this is a great opportunity to buy product and get high but we view this as a date, historic day for the state of New Jersey.”
He said it’s about getting well — for the people who haven’t gotten a medical card and have undiagnosed symptoms that cannabis can treat, as well as moving toward social justice reform and financial benefits.
“We’re talking about getting well socially, doing away with the stigma that was attached to people who use cannabis. And we’re getting well economically. When you speak to those municipal leaders that have had cannabis operations in their towns, they are benefiting not just from the tax revenue, but cannabis.”
Gov. Phil Murphy said the state expects the brand new industry to generate more than $2 billion in sales over the next four years. He said the industry will also create jobs and bring hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in tax revenue to the state.
Two ATM machines inside RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary on the first day of recreational marijuana sales, in Bloomfield, N.J., Wednesday, April, 20, 2022Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Line for cashier as RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary on the first day of recreational marijuana sales, in Bloomfield, N.J., Wednesday, April, 20, 2022Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Using a touch screen to order. RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary on the first day of recreational marijuana sales, in Bloomfield, N.J., Wednesday, April, 20, 2022Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Paying for recreational marijuana at RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary on the first day of recreational marijuana sales, in Bloomfield, N.J., Wednesday, April, 20, 2022Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
RISE Medical Marijuana Dispensary on the first day of recreational marijuana sales, in Bloomfield, N.J., Wednesday, April, 20, 2022Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for
Long lines at Zenleaf in Lawrence on day one of legal weed sales for recreational as well as medical use in N.J.
Long lines at Zen Leaf in Lawrence on day one of legal weed sales for recreational as well as medical use in N.J. David Spreckman, Executive Vice President of Marketing of Verano demonstrates a kiosk for express pick up.
TerrAscend’s The Apothecarium in Phillipsburg opens its doors to recreational cannabis sales on Thursday, April 21, 2022, as New Jersey sees its long-awaited first day of adult-use cannabis sales.Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – Customers inside the Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth where New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy would visit on the day that New Jersey joins 13 other states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – Customers inside the Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth where New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy would visit on the day that New Jersey joins 13 other states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Marvin Washington, former NFL player, celebrates after his purchase at The Botanist in Williamstown during the first day of legal recreational sales of cannabis in New Jersey, Thursday, April 21, 2022. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – Lawrence Shung, of Parsippany, browses in the Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth on the day that New Jersey joins 13 other states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – In the Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, left, speaks with customer Lawrence Shung, of Parsippany, right. Others from left are Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and , J. Christian Bollwage Mayor of Elizabeth. Suneil “Sonny” Achrekar, general manager of Zen Leaf – Elizabeth, is 2nd from right. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – Charles Pfeiffer, of Scotch Plains, yells and holds up his purchase after being the first one of out the Zen leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth on the first day of legal recreational sales of cannabis in New Jersey, Pfeiffer said he spent $140 and bought 1/8th ounce and some cannabis infused gummies candy. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – Customers inside the Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth where New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy would visit on the day that New Jersey joins 13 other states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Thursday, April 21, 2022 – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy speaks outside the Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth on the day that New Jersey joins 13 other states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Richard Jester, of Williamstown, celebrates after his purchase at The Botanist in Williamstown during the first day of legal recreational sales of cannabis in New Jersey, Thursday, April 21, 2022.Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Butch Adamo, of Philadelphia, waits in line at The Botanist in Williamstown during the first day of legal recreational sales of cannabis in New Jersey, Thursday, April 21, 2022.Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Ascend Cannabis a dispensary in Rochelle Park offers recreational weed as New Jersey kicks off its first day of legalized sales. Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
Ascend Cannabis a dispensary in Rochelle Park offers recreational weed as New Jersey kicks off its first day of legalized sales. Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
Ascend Cannabis a dispensary in Rochelle Park offers recreational weed as New Jersey kicks off its first day of legalized sales. Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media