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By Christene Carr
Legit vs. Shady: How to spot a legal cannabis dispensary in New Jersey
New Jersey has a regulated cannabis market with more than 300 licensed dispensaries across the state. In 2025, the NJ cannabis industry generated more than $1.16 billion in sales and $67.5 million in sales tax. With any new and lucrative industry, unlicensed operators try to cash in. Illegal marijuana isn’t just a legal risk for the business operators; it can also be dangerous for consumers. Unregulated products skip the safety testing, labeling requirements, and warnings that New Jersey law requires, and the shops don’t have the guardrails in place to protect vulnerable populations like kids, teens, and young adults from gaining access to these products.
Is legal cannabis on your shopping list? Here’s how to spot a state-licensed cannabis dispensary:
New Jersey’s legal cannabis market is built around safety, transparency, and accountability, and we’ve made it easy to spot a legal dispensary. When in doubt, check the map at njcrcgov.info/dispensary before you go. A legitimate shop will card you, display its license, sell properly packaged and labeled products, and give you a receipt. If something feels off, it probably is. Walk out and find a shop that checks all the boxes.
Five years of regulation, responsibility, and growth
04/2/2026
As we approach the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s fifth anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to build two things at once: a new government agency and a new regulated industry. Neither comes with a roadmap. Both require patience, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to make difficult decisions in real time. In five short years, the Commission has significantly expanded access to medicinal cannabis and launched the adult-use market, which to date has generated approximately $4 billion in sales. But our success cannot be measured solely by speed; it must be measured by whether we built an industry grounded in equity, accountability, and meaningful opportunity. From the beginning, our work has been guided by a set of core principles that continue to shape every decision we make.
How Terpenes Affect Your Cannabis Experience
03/24/2026
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in plants, including cannabis. They give plants their characteristic scents, help protect them from mold, fungus and other pathogens, and play a crucial role in modulating cannabis’ psychoactive effects. For example, two strains with identical THC percentages can feel completely different, one may leave you sedated and the other may leave you energized. More than a hundred terpenes exist in cannabis, each with its unique aroma and potential therapeutic benefits. Terpenes are essential for shaping the plant’s impact on the human body and mind.
2025 in Review — a year of continued growth & equity at NJ-CRC
02/5/2026
In 2025, the Commission continued expanding access to regulated cannabis for patients and consumers across the state, with more than 396 licensed businesses operating in 211 municipalities. New Jersey’s cannabis market continued to mature, generating nearly $860 million in sales during the first three quarters of the year. During the same period, approximately $49.5 million in tax revenue and just over $8 million in SEEF funds were collected. Equity remained central to the Commission’s work in 2025. From licensing and education to data transparency and community engagement, the NJ-CRC took deliberate steps to ensure that the benefits of legalization continue to reach diverse entrepreneurs and communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition, while holding licensees accountable to the standards set forth under the CREAMM Act.