Warren County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Warren County?

Licensed cultivation of cannabis in Warren County for medical and adult use is legal. In 2010, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (CUMMA) of the State of New Jersey legalized medical cannabis. This law was improved by the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act in 2019. On February 22, 2021, adult-use cannabis for individuals aged at least 21 was legalized by the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act. Among Warren County residents, 37,481 voted for CREAMM, whereas 22,039 voted against it.

The CREAMM allows municipalities to opt in or opt out of adult-use cannabis establishments. As of April 1, 2022, out of the 22 municipalities of Warren County, only Knowlton allowed all types of adult-use cannabis businesses. Hackettstown allowed only retail adult-use cannabis businesses. In contrast, the following four municipalities of Warren County only opted to allow non-retail adult-use cannabis businesses:

• Belvidere
• Oxford
• Harmony
• Frelinghuysen

Meanwhile, the following 16 municipalities opted out of all types of adult-use cannabis businesses:

• Phillipsburg
• Washington Borough
• Pohatcong
• Alpha
• Independence
• Liberty
• Lopatcong
• Mansfield
• Greenwich
• Hardwick
• Blairstown
• Washington Township
• Allamuchy
• Hope
• Franklin
• White

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) issues all the licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis enterprises, such as medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation permits. The recreational cannabis rules were also developed by the CRC.

As of August 2023, the CRC was not accepting applications for medical cannabis enterprises. Medical cannabis firms that already existed were permitted to continue cultivating medical cannabis, manufacturing medical cannabis products, and distributing all these to medical cannabis cardholders. They were also permitted to announce their intention to do the same with adult-use cannabis if their locality approved. Warren County had no licensed medical cannabis companies as of June 2023.

Adult-use cannabis business applications for Class 1 cultivator licenses and cultivator microbusiness licenses were being accepted by the CRC as of August 2023. Only 10 people are allowed to work for a microbusiness, which can only have a 2,500-square-foot facility. Only 1,000 mature cannabis plants can be grown each month by the microbusiness, with a cannabis canopy height of 24 feet. Warren County had no Class 1 cultivation or cultivator microbusiness licensees as of June 2023.

Cannabis crops cultivated by licensed medical or adult-use cannabis growers may be located indoors or outdoors, as stated in the CREAMM Act. For outdoor cultivation, though, the municipality’s approval is required.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Warren County?

Licensed manufacturing of medical and adult-use cannabis products in Warren County is legal by virtue of the State of New Jersey’s CREAMM Act. However, adult-use cannabis product manufacturing is only allowed in municipalities that have opted into it.

Existing registered medical cannabis product manufacturers are still in operation in the State of New Jersey even if applications for new medical marijuana firms have ended. The CRC allows licensed medical cannabis product manufacturers who indicate an intention to produce adult-use cannabis products to do so.

Class 2 manufacturing licenses and manufacturer microbusiness licenses for adult-use cannabis were still being accepted by the CRC as of August 2023. The number of workers and facility size restrictions for the manufacturing microbusiness license are the same as those for the cultivator microbusiness license. Furthermore, the manufacturer microbusiness license holder is limited to a monthly possession of 1,000 pounds of cannabis or the equivalent. Warren County had no adult-use cannabis Class 2 manufacturing or manufacturer microbusiness licensees as of June 2023.

Operations of licensed adult-use cannabis product manufacturers are required to be indoors within a secure, fully enclosed, and locked facility. Adult-use cannabis products are subject to the following restrictions:

1. One serving of a cannabis product may contain no more than 10 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
2. A cannabis product designed for consumption may contain no more than 100 milligrams of THC in a single packet.
3. A packet of any cannabis product designed for inhalation may contain no more than 7.09 grams or one-fourth ounce of cannabis or the equivalent.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Warren County?

Licensed retail selling of medical and adult-use cannabis and the respective products in Warren County is legal as stipulated by the CREAMM Act of the State of New Jersey, but the retail selling of adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products is only allowed in municipalities that have opted into it.

The CRC was not accepting new applications for medical cannabis companies as of August 2023, but registered medical cannabis dispensaries were still allowed to sell medical cannabis and medical cannabis products solely to medical cannabis cardholders throughout the state. The CRC also allowed those who declared a desire to sell adult-use cannabis and its products to people who are aged 21 and above to do so.

Applications for adult-use cannabis Class 5 retailer licenses and retailer microbusiness licenses were still being accepted by the CRC as of August 2023. Both licenses authorize the retail selling of medical cannabis and its products to medical cannabis cardholders, as well as adult-use cannabis and its products to age-qualified consumers.

The retailer microbusiness license has the same constraints in terms of staff numbers and facility dimensions as the cultivator and manufacturer microbusiness licenses. Each month, the retailer microbusiness license holder may have only a maximum of 1,000 pounds of cannabis or the equivalent. Warren County had no recreational cannabis Class 5 retailer or retailer microbusiness licensees as of June 2023.

The purchasing limit for medical cannabis cardholders is 84 grams of cannabis or its equivalent per 30 days. There is no restriction, however, for cardholders suffering from a terminal disease.

Consumers who are 21 years old or older and who provide acceptable government-issued photo identification with evidence of age are permitted to purchase no more than 28.35 grams of cannabis or any of the following alternatives per transaction:

• 1 ounce of raw cannabis
• 4 grams of cannabis resin or solid cannabis concentrate
• 4 grams of concentrated liquid cannabis
• 4 grams of cannabis oil or vaporized cannabis oil
• Cannabis products containing 1,000 milligrams of THC

Licensed medical and adult-use cannabis retailers may offer concentrates, resins, oil, extracts, tinctures, syrups, tablets, chewable non-food products, pills, and capsules in addition to dried cannabis plant components. medical and adult-use cannabis products must be devoid of potentially harmful ingredients. Cannabis-infused food items are forbidden.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Warren County?

medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis product delivery to qualified purchasers is legal in Warren County according to the State of New Jersey’s CREAMM Act. Even municipalities that prohibit adult-use cannabis retail businesses are not allowed to ban the delivery of medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products from other municipalities to qualified purchasers residing within their jurisdictions.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Warren County

Warren County residents and non-residents alike may apply for a medical cannabis card from the New Jersey medical Cannabis Program (NJMCP) to get medical cannabis treatment. Warren County residents need to be cared for medically by an NJMCP-registered health practitioner, though. As of August 2023, there were 13 in the county.

An Authorizing Provider Statement, registry ID number, and reference ID number will be issued by the health practitioner once the patient has been diagnosed to be suffering from any of the following listed conditions:

• Positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Chronic pain
• Anxiety
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Migraine
• Dysmenorrhea
• Tourette Syndrome
• Glaucoma
• Muscular dystrophy
• Seizure disorders
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Intractable skeletal muscular spasticity
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Terminal illness with life expectancy of less than 12 months

In order to complete the application, the patient must go to the NJMCP registry portal and create an account. A recent picture and proof of state residence are necessary. The charge is $50, however, it may be lowered to $20 for those who submit proof of being any of the following:

• Aged 65 years old or older
• A military veteran
• New Jersey Medicaid beneficiary
• A beneficiary of New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
• A beneficiary of Medicare
• A beneficiary of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• A beneficiary of Social Security Disability (SSD)
• A beneficiary of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

For [patients under the age of 18](https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/documents/mmp/New Portal Instructions/NJ MCP Child Registration User Guide.pdf), a caregiver is required and must be a parent or legal guardian. The caregiver for a minor will receive a medical cannabis card for free.

Adult patients who are impaired may also choose up to two caregivers. Adult patients' caregivers go through the same steps on the internet portal as the adult patient and pay the identical amount. The same discount is available to qualifying aid recipients.

Medical cannabis cards with a two-year validity term are granted to patients and caregivers who are residents of the State of New Jersey.

Non-state residents can only apply for a six-month non-renewable medical cannabis card provided they have a legitimate medical cannabis card from their current state of residence. They must also undergo a medical assessment by an NJMCP-registered health practitioner. They will receive certification from the practitioner in the registry and access to the application portal if they are found to be qualified.

Queries may be sent to:

medical Cannabis Program Patient Services

Phone: 609-292-0424

Email: medcannabis@crc.nj.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Warren County?

As of June 2023, Warren County had no medical or adult-use cannabis companies in any of its municipalities. As a result, the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in the State of New Jersey has had no impact on the county's economy. However, once a recreational cannabis company opens up in a municipality that permits it within the county, the municipality may charge transfer taxes and use taxes at the following maximum rates:

1. Every sale of adult-use cannabis or cannabis products requires a 2% transfer tax from a licensed grower, manufacturer, or retailer.
2. Each movement of adult-use cannabis or cannabis products from one facility to another requires a 2% use tax to be paid by a licensed grower, manufacturer, or retailer that operates more than one cannabis facility.
3. A licensed distributor is required to pay 1% on every sale of adult-use cannabis or cannabis products.

There is no medical cannabis sales tax in the state. However, retail sales of recreational cannabis are subject to a 6.625% sales tax. A Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) is also levied on the sales of licensed recreational cannabis cultivators to licensed adult-use cannabis processors, retailers, and distributors at $1.52 per ounce of cannabis.

Data from the CRC states that recreational cannabis retail sales in the State of New Jersey began on April 21, 2022, with gross statewide sales totaling almost $1.9 million.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Warren County

Medical cannabis was legalized in Warren County in 2010, and adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2021 in municipalities that opted into it.

Data sent by the New Jersey State Police to the Crime Explorer page of the FBI shows that in 2009, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 27 marijuana possession arrests and two marijuana sales arrests, totaling 29 marijuana offense arrests in Warren County.

In 2011, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 36 marijuana possession arrests and two marijuana sales arrests, totaling 38 marijuana offense arrests across the county.

In 2015, there were 46 marijuana possession arrests and one marijuana sales arrest, totaling 47 marijuana offense arrests throughout the county.

In 2020, the latest data showed 59 marijuana possession arrests and no marijuana sales arrests in the county.

The number of DUI arrests in Warren County during those years was as follows:

• 2009: 129 arrests
• 2011: 178 arrests
• 2015: 136 arrests
• 2020: 93 arrests