For customers at the Apothecarium, one of New Jersey’s 13 medical marijuana stores, 4/20, the unofficial celebration of all marijuana stuff, came a day late.
On Thursday, April 21, the use of cannabis for entertainment was legalized in New Jersey, allowing anyone 21 and older to legally buy marijuana.
At the Apothecarium, nestled between a smoothie bar and a cafe in Maplewood, hundreds arrived to legally buy weed for the first time in New Jersey, just one hop and skip – either by bridge or tunnel – away from New York.
Arriving in groups or alone, young and old came to celebrate what many described as a long-awaited step in making marijuana more accessible.
“Today is absolutely historic,” said Jason Somers, 41, an Apothecarium employee who works as a security guard for the first day of the dispensary, which serves leisure clients.
“Those who indulge in cannabis have been waiting for this day for a very long time, even now that it is here. It’s beautiful, “added Somers, wearing a plain black T-shirt and excitedly greeting customers when they first arrived.
Maplewood police stood in front of the dispensary, helping to direct traffic and pointing to parking for impatient buyers. Under the sunny sky, the clients were greeted by uniformed employees of the dispensary, who handed out bags, lighters, free T-shirts and other extras.
“[This is] probably one of the most exciting days for all our staff and all our clients, ”said Chantel Elsner, senior vice president of retail at TerrAscend, the company that owns Apothecarium, trying to talk over the noise of customers enthusiastically entering the dispensary for the first time. road.
After registering online, those waiting to buy can either walk to the companies in the area or wait in the parking lot with tents opposite the dispensary.
Once inside, the dispensary was divided into entertainment buyers compared to typical Apothecarium medical patients.
Some walked around looking at glass cases featuring strains of “fat monkey,” a hybrid mixture, a “stomach,” a relaxing indica bud, and other cannabis products.
Cannabis oil, pre-rolled joints and pimples were available to the first customers of Apothecarium for recreational use, and edible stock will soon be available.
“It’s like going to a candy store for the first time. You look around and see, ”said Princeton Good, a 36-year-old student who was waiting in the parking lot with his girlfriend and girlfriend.
William Walker, 67, and his wife, Debra, came from the area to shop for entertainment, hoping cannabis could alleviate some of their chronic pain, especially in Walker’s knees and eyes.
“It simply came to our notice then. If not, at least I tried, “Walker said as his wife nodded.
Walker, who is happy with the legalization of New Jersey, joked that the only drawback was a possible increase in robberies “beyond the fact that children can rob you if they think you have them.”
Both beginners and weed enthusiasts share the excitement of the new law, the product of a decade-long struggle by New Jersey cannabis advocates to catch up with many other U.S. states and end its criminalization.
New Jersey voters first approved the legalization of cannabis in a referendum in 2020. A year later, U.S. lawmakers, under Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, legalized its use and purchase for entertainment, processing applications for dispensaries, and drafting rules for the novice industry.
At least 18 other states and Washington have already legalized marijuana for entertainment, with a total of 37 states allowing the purchase of marijuana for medical purposes.
There are far fewer on the East Coast, and New Jersey is among the first to start selling entertainment. New York, where cannabis for entertainment was legalized last year, has not yet launched a licensed recreation market.
“So many people have been expelled for cannabis use across the country, but it’s finally amazing to see New Jersey do something legal about it,” said Julio Morales-Carrera, a 28-year-old self-described “cold-blooded man.”
Cannabis sales also bring additional revenue to the state treasury through sales taxes. Murphy predicts in 2019 that entertainment cannabis sales will add $ 60 million in government revenue.
New Jersey officials say marijuana sales taxes will be distributed to black and brown communities that have been disproportionately affected by decades of marijuana criminalization.
“If they use the money properly, it can help everything the state needs, the municipality,” said Roberto Severini, a 29-year-old client and self-proclaimed weed enthusiast.
For many, especially black cannabis users, the great benefit of now being able to buy from a dispensary is the opportunity not to face harassment or the stigma of buying cannabis, as black people are four times more likely to be arrested under marijuana possession laws than white people.
“It’s a huge difference to go out and be able to go to the store and not feel like you’re doing something wrong. That’s the biggest thing for me, “said Chris, 40, a sales specialist who chose not to reveal his last name.
Kinley Lewis, a New Jersey resident who was waiting with a colleague and talking to other avid cannabis buyers, agreed to feel less anxious while shopping at the dispensary.
“You no longer have to worry about being persecuted for flowers and, on top of that, you don’t have to worry about going to ‘sketching places’ trying to buy it,” Lewis said, referring to the pimples. cannabis.
Even with the increased price of marijuana at the dispensary compared to buying it on the street, most noted that it was worth it, given the better quality, easy access and knowing exactly what they were getting.
“Maybe the price is a little different, but the quality is probably a lot better,” said Jessica Jones, 26, who added: “It’s a different experience and smoother.”
Jonathan Ortiz, a cancer survivor, said he would apply for a job at the dispensary.
“[It’s about] knowledge of all products, what is inside the products, the possibility of different products and the safety of all this. At least you know who to go to if something goes wrong, “he said.
By the middle of the afternoon, as the early morning waves of shoppers shrank, people’s enthusiasm was palpable. Those waiting in line for their chance to buy contact people who have successfully received their goods.
A man in a red hood dances alone on Silk Sonic’s Smokin Out the Window in the dispensary parking lot before joining his friends while they wait for a text confirming that they can enter the dispensary.
Bursts of laughter and applause filled the air, with those moving along the dispensary’s line asking for parking information so they could buy.
“It’s a beautiful thing. It’s really beautiful, “said Good.
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