In the long road to legalization, on Nov. 3, 2020, 67% of New Jersey voters approved the proposed amendment to the state’s Constitution to legalize a regulated adult use recreational cannabis market. Establishing a historic legal milestone in the state’s history, New Jersey became the 12th state and first in the Northeastern United States to legalize adult use cannabis. Known as the Senate Concurrent Resolution 183, the Amendment becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2021. However, despite broad public support for the initiative, the recreational sale, use and possession of cannabis remains illegal throughout the state, and will remain so until a legal framework has been established.

Subsequent to the reported election results, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued interim guidance to all chief law enforcement clarifying that the Amendment does not legalize or decriminalize the sale or possession of unregulated recreational cannabis. First, New Jersey must establish and implement the legal framework to accommodate what is projected to become a rapidly growing retail market with anticipated sales in the billions of dollars within the first few years.