A Pot Park Could Be Coming To Your Town In The Future.
New Jersey is one step closer to allowing dedicated spaces for legal cannabis use.
Here’s the proposal on how recreational cannabis should be consumed in public areas.
The recreational site can be indoors or outside, but needs to be enclosed. No alcohol or tobacco will be allowed on site. Furthermore, food sales on premise will not be allowed. However, consumers can have their munchies delivered or bring food from home. These rules were voted on last week by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, or the CRC.
NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND – JUNE 11: A stuffed Ted mascot sells bongs and rolling papers at a marijuana legalization festival on June 11, 2022 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Highland Network, a pro-marijuana organization, hosted their two-day “Thailand 420 Legalaew” music and marijuana festival at a man-made beach area in Nakhon Pathom. On June 9, 2022 Thailand officially decriminalized marijuana cultivation and possession, as the government plans to give away 1 million cannabis plants for free to people throughout the country. The festival featured farmers and dispensaries selling their marijuana, educating people about medicinal CBD and THC, and cooking with cannabis. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Legal cannabis consumption spaces won’t be coming anytime soon.
According to NJ Patch, The proposed rules will be published in the New Jersey Register with a public comment period to follow for 60 days. Once the rules are adopted, a Notice of Applications Acceptance will be issued before medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries in the state can apply to allow onsite consumption at their facilities. These applications will start at $1000, and a standard licensing fee will cost $5000.
NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND – JUNE 12: A man smokes marijuana on June 12, 2022 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Highland Network, a pro-marijuana organization, hosted their two day “Thailand 420 Legalaew” music and marijuana festival at a man made beach area in Nakhon Pathom. On June 9, 2022 Thailand officially decriminalized marijuana cultivation and possession and the government plans to give away 1 million cannabis plants for free to people throughout the country. The festival featured farmers and dispensaries selling their marijuana, educating people about medicinal CBD and THC, and cooking with cannabis. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
There is a code of ethics as well.
During the CRC meeting last week, the commission also adopted a Code of Ethics for itself. The CRC was done there, awarding 113 conditional cannabis sales licenses, 8 annual licenses, and approved 6 conversions of conditional licenses to annual ones.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – APRIL 20: A Thai activist holds up a prop joint that says “smoke weed” during a pro marijuana rally on April 20, 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. To celebrate World Cannabis Day Thai activists marched from Democracy Monument to Khaosan Road to promote the legalization of marijuana in Thailand for recreational use. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
What about all the NIMBYs?
There surely will be even greater concerns now in local municipalities, already weighing the pros and cons of have a cannabis dispensary within their town limits. Buying legalized cannabis from a shop is one thing. Recreational cannabis use inside or on the outside grounds of that premises is obviously another. The Not In My Backyard folks most likely will balk in much the same way they did in towns that tried to welcome dispensaries over the past year only to see residents push back. Ethics and economics don’t always mix when it comes to cannabis, that’s for sure.
