The long-awaited legalization of cannabis in New Jersey is finally coming to a municipality near you. Many cities in NJ opted out because they wanted to see how other municipalities regulated cannabis businesses, so please let us know if this map is out of date by sending an email Ask me your questions via email > tom@collateralbase.com
Opening a dispensary in New Jersey is difficult because of finding the real estate to open up shop in a location that wants you there. As the Garden State opens up the application process for new cannabis business licenses, regulators recently agreed on rules and regulations for the industry.
However, recreational marijuana is allowed in just approximately 36% of the state’s communities.
What Municipalities Have Opted in for the New Jersey Cannabis Program
Below you will find a list with all the municipalities that have opted in the New Jersey cannabis program:
Atlantic County municipalities opting in
- Absecon
- Egg Harbor Township
- Galloway
- Pleasantville
Bergen County NJ municipalities opting in
- Cliffside Park
- Elmwood Park
- Fort Lee
- Garfield
- Hackensack
- Lodi
- Maywood
- Moonachie
- North Arlington
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Teaneck
- Wood-Ridge
Burlington County municipalities opting in
- Bass River
- Bordentown City
- Burlington City
- Cinnaminson
- Delran
- Eastampton
- Evesham
- Lumberton
- Mount Holly
- Riverside
- Shamong
Camden County municipalities opting in
- Barrington
- Collingswood
- Gibbsboro
- Oaklyn
- Pennsauken
- Somerdale
- Voorhees
- Waterford
Cape May County municipalities opting in
- Woodbine
Has Your Township in NJ allowed or banned cannabis businesses?
Not all New Jersey municipalities have opted out of cannabis
businesses. Has your municipality allowed or banned cannabis businesses?
Let us know if you your Township needs to be added to this list, please!
Cumberland County municipalities opting in
- Bridgeton
- Millville
- Vineland
Essex County municipalities opting in
- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Irvington
- West Orange
Gloucester County municipalities opting in
- Elk
- Franklin
- Greenwich
- Woodbury
- Woolwich
Hudson County municipalities opting in
- Bayonne
- East Newark
- Jersey City
Hunterdon County municipalities opting in
- Flemington
- Lambertville
Mercer County municipalities opting in
- Ewing
- Hamilton
- Lawrence
Middlesex County municipalities opting in
- Highland Park
- New Brunswick
- North Brunswick
- South River
- Woodbridge
Monmouth County municipalities opting in
- Aberdeen
- Eatontown
- Freehold Borough
- Matawan
- Neptune City
- Neptune Township
- Ocean Township
- Red Bank
Morris County municipalities opting in
- Boonton
- Butler
- Rockaway Borough
- Rockaway Township
Passaic County municipalities opting in
- Haledon
- Passaic
- West Milford
Salem County municipalities opting in
- Lower Alloways Creek
Somerset County municipalities opting in
- Franklin
- North Plainfield
- Somerville
- South Bound Brook
Sussex County municipalities opting in
- Andover Township
Union County municipalities opting in
- Elizabeth
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Union
Warren County municipalities opting in
- Frelinghuysen
- Hackettstown
RELATED POST: New Jersey Initial Rules for the Adult-use Cannabis Market
Did Your Municipality Opt In?
Contact us to start working on your cannabis license application
Click Here
Why are New Jersey Municipalities Banning Cannabis Shops?
The vast majority of New Jersey voters approved a referendum last year to legalize marijuana. So why have more than 70 percent of municipalities in the state opted to ban cannabis businesses from operating in their area?
Some prohibitionists believe it is because of NIMBY-ism, but that answer seems far from the truth, as voters haven’t had a direct say in the local decisions so far, as local officials are the ones making the choices through city councils.
Also, some elected officials in several areas who do support cannabis commercialization chose to enact a ban ahead of an August 22 deadline simply to give themselves more time to develop individualized regulations before greenlighting marijuana companies.
The Camden City Council voted against allowing adult-use marijuana businesses, for example, but it’s not because legislators oppose having the industry in its jurisdiction.
“It’s more like a pause on having the industry in the city, particularly to give us control over the industry in Camden, It gives us a chance to have a road map and put in best recommendations for policies and procedures.” Nichelle Pace, chair of the Candem Business Association
New Jersey Cannabis Municipalities Opt In Map
Here’s an interactive map showing the current stance of municipalities towards New Jersey’s cannabis program, according to the New Jersey Herald:
