New Jersey Officials Share Tips For Marijuana Use At Newly Opened Consumption Lounges
As New Jersey’s first marijuana consumption lounges are opening, regulators are sharing information about where to find the sites and offering tips about how to responsibly use cannabis at the licensed businesses—including classic stoner cultural customs like “puff, puff, pass.”
About a month after the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) granted its first social consumption lounge license, regulators said “cannabis users now have legal spaces to smoke cannabis socially outside their homes.”
There are currently a handful of operational consumption sites, with more license awardees expected to open soon.
“Imagine meeting friends for happy hour, but at a dispensary’s cannabis lounge instead of your local bar, and without alcohol,” NJ-CRC said.
“Not everyone can, or wants to, smoke or consume cannabis at home,” it said. “Renters face restrictions, tourists lack access, and people living in multi-family units may be subject to building policies that ban smoking altogether.”
“Consumption areas also help remove some of the stigma and stereotyping associated with cannabis use,” it continues. “They provide spaces for adults to use cannabis communally, safely, and legally while providing opportunities for education. Consumers can ask questions and learn about safe use in real time.”
In addition to assisting adults to identify licensed lounges, the commission also gave some advice to cannabis novices, explaining both the statutory rules around marijuana on-site consumption and how to ensure that they have a safe experience.
“Know your limits and avoid unpleasant experiences for yourself and others. Pace yourself, stick to what you’re comfortable with, and don’t feel pressured to consume more than you usually would,” NJ-CRC said. “Also, never pressure someone else to do more or other than they’re comfortable with.”