Burlington County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Burlington County?

Yes. Cannabis cultivation is allowed in Burlington County, New Jersey, provided the medicinal and recreational cannabis businesses are licensed to grow cannabis plants. Only those business entities with an approved Class 1 Cultivator License can grow cannabis. Therefore, planting cannabis plants in private and residential areas is prohibited.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) regulates the sale of medicinal and recreational cannabis in New Jersey. The NJCRC then adopted the rules for controlling the cannabis market in the state, which are embodied in the NJ Administrative Code 1730 (NJAC 1730).

The rules provide that cannabis cultivation shall only be done in the cannabis business premises approved in the license, including any indoor or outdoor areas. Licensed cultivators must grow cannabis in an enclosed, locked area or facility where only authorized persons have access. Outdoor cultivation may be permitted, subject to the conditions provided in the NJAC 1730.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Burlington County?

Yes. Burlington County permits cannabis manufacturing. Businesses or organizations must secure a Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer license issued by the CRC to manufacture cannabis products.

Like cannabis cultivation, cannabis manufacturing must operate in an enclosed indoor, locked facility. The manufacturer must ensure that the specifically designated area for cannabis production is safe and orderly.

As a cannabis manufacturer, quality control must be maintained in all their products. The rules in NJAC 1730 provide that the manufacturer must ensure the quality, purity, strength, and identity of the cannabis product. They must prevent contamination in their products by ensuring that the products are manufactured, packaged, labeled, and stored under favorable conditions.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Burlington County?

Yes. Cannabis retailers in the state hold a Class 5 Cannabis Retailer license issued by the CRC. It is the task of the Commission to accept new applications and issue cannabis retailer licenses according to the market demands for cannabis. Moreover, the CRC shall ensure that retailers have access to purchasing from licensed sources of cannabis to prevent sourcing from illegal markets.

New Jersey residents and visitors aged 21 are legally allowed to buy cannabis from dispensaries. Adults can only purchase up to 28.35 grams or 1 ounce of usable cannabis for each transaction. The types of cannabis products sold may be in the form of dried flowers, concentrates, resins, oil forms, gummies, topicals, and lozenges, among others. Perishable items like edibles, cookies, and brownies are not allowed for purchase in dispensaries.

A combination of cannabis products may be sold to recreational users, as long as the total weight of cannabis does not exceed 1 ounce. On the other hand, registered patients are allowed to purchase up to 3 ounces every 30 days, although their health care provider may modify this dosage. This limit does not apply to terminally ill patients who may need more than 3 ounces.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Burlington County?

Yes. A Class 6 Cannabis Delivery license is issued to a cannabis delivery service that partakes in transporting cannabis products and cannabis-related supplies from the retailer to the consumer. Home delivery of cannabis is allowed in the state. Retailers may engage in the services of a cannabis delivery personnel or a cannabis delivery service to transport their products to the consumer’s residence.

Cannabis delivery is approved for recreational users and medicinal cannabis patients. The delivery service may require the consumer to present their government-issued ID for identification purposes. Registered patients may opt to present their government-issued IDs or their medical marijuana ID card. The presentment of the latter allows the patient to buy cannabis more than the 1-ounce maximum limit.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Burlington County

The Medicinal Cannabis Program (MCP) in New Jersey allows registered patients to safely access cannabis and cannabis medicine from monitored and regulated facilities. Their doctors or health care providers determine the dosage and orders needed by the patient, and the latter can purchase these products from Alternative Treatment Centers (ATC) or authorized dispensaries in the state.

To qualify as an MCP patient, you must comply with the following requirements: (1) maintain a bonafide relationship with a doctor or health care provider registered in the program; (2) you must be a resident in New Jersey; and (3) you must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition by a health care provider. Some of the qualifying conditions registered in the MCP include:

• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• Anxiety

• Cancer

• Chronic pain

• Dysmenorrhea

• Glaucoma

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Migraine

• Multiple sclerosis

• Opioid Use Disorder

• Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Seizure disorders

• Terminal illness

• Tourette Syndrome

Once you are eligible as an MCP patient, setting up a patient account is next. A patient account allows you to renew your ID card, track your application status, check your authorization period, pay ID fees, and send inquiries to the MCP customer service. The requirements for setting up a patient account can be found here.

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Burlington County?

In the first 10 weeks since the sale of recreational cannabis was allowed in New Jersey, nearly $80 million in total sales were garnered. In just one month, total sales of recreational cannabis shoot to more than $24 million for more than 210,000 transactions.

Retail sales of recreational cannabis are subject to sales and use tax at the current rate of 6.625%, which shall be remitted to the Divison of Taxation. On the contrary, the sale of medical cannabis is no longer subject to sales and use tax, effective July 1, 2022.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Burlington County

The FBI Crime Data Explorer reported nearly 20,000 arrests for marijuana possession while more than 3,000 arrests were made for marijuana sale and manufacturing in 2020. There is a lack of data in ascertaining how the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey affected the crime rates in the state and the counties since the legalization took effect in 2021.

The correlation between marijuana legalization and its effects on crime rates has not been set in stone. In his research, Dr. Robert Morris, an Associate Professor of Criminology, has found that marijuana legalization does not automatically decrease crime rates but he has observed that data on crime rates has been stagnant after marijuana legalization, with no increase or decrease.

In 2019, author Alex Berenson stated in her study that advocates have predicted that marijuana legalization would, in a way, reduce violent crimes. However, it was disproved when data from the first four states who legalized marijuana for recreational use presented an increase in crime rates.