New Jersey Cannabis Laws: Medicinal Card, 6-Ounce Limit, No Home Grow and Retail Licenses

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Last verified November 13, 2026. Facts come from the agency or source linked on this page. Where sources conflict or we could not confirm something, we say so.

Adult-Use Rules in New Jersey
The New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Card
Bills Moving in 2026 and 2027
Open a Dispensary
Timeline
FAQ
Related Reading

New Jersey at a Glance

Adult UseLegal for adults 21 and older with a licensed market.

Possession LimitUp to 6 ounces of cannabis and cannabis products, per the state's FAQ.

Home GrowNot permitted for adults or medicinal patients. Only the Legislature can change that.

Medicinal CardA digital card is free. A printed card costs $10. Valid for two years.

Retail LicenseA conditional license costs $200 to submit and $800 on approval. One source puts the annual retail fee at $10,000.

New Jersey Medicinal Card Checklist

Find a healthcare provider who is registered with the Medicinal Cannabis Program and has a bona fide relationship with you.
Have the provider certify a qualifying condition.
Register with the Commission and choose a digital card (free) or a printed card ($10).
Keep your two-year expiry date handy, because renewal opens 60 days before it.
Use a recent photo when you renew.

Card Cost Planner

Add up card fees over the years you plan to hold a New Jersey card.

Card lengthYears you plan to hold a card

Renewal Date Finder

Enter your approval date to estimate when it expires.

Approval date

Adult-Use Rules in New Jersey

New Jersey voters approved adult-use cannabis in 2020, and licensed sales are running. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission, not a health department, writes the rules for both adult-use and medicinal programs.

Possession: adults 21 and older may have up to 6 ounces of cannabis and cannabis products. Older 2022 materials mention 1 ounce, which predates the current figure.
Purchases: a dispensary may sell up to 28.35 grams (1 ounce) per transaction. That is a sale cap, not a possession cap.
Gifting: adults may give up to 1 ounce to another adult 21 or older, as long as no payment is accepted.
Home grow: not permitted. The Commission has said the Legislature alone can authorize home growing, and medicinal patients and caregivers cannot grow either. Senate Bill 2564 would change that and carries over to the 2027 session.
Travel: you cannot take cannabis across state lines, and property owners can restrict use on their property.

The New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Card

The program page says digital ID cards are free and physical cards cost $10, and both are valid for two years. A December 2023 Commission waiver removed the older $100 fee ($20 reduced) for electronic cards. A Department of Health page still shows the old numbers, so use the Commission's page.

You need a bona fide relationship with a provider who is registered with the program.
The provider certifies a qualifying condition, then you register and receive a card.
Renewal can start up to 60 days before your card expires, with a recent photo.

The patient FAQ and the provider guide list different qualifying conditions. The patient FAQ names HIV and AIDS, PTSD, seizure disorders, terminal illness with a prognosis under 12 months and Tourette syndrome. The provider guide adds anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease, migraine, multiple sclerosis and opioid use disorder. Check the Commission's current rules before relying on either list.

Bills Moving in 2026 and 2027

New Jersey leads the country in cannabis bill volume, and several carry over to the 2027 session. Assembly bill A5051 became law on May 29, 2026. It covers hemp, intoxicating hemp beverages and medical cannabis restrictions.

S 2564: home grow of up to six plants for adults and ten for patients.
S 1758: home grow for medical patients or caregivers.
S 3171: would make buying from unlicensed sellers a crime.
S 784: would weaken employment protections for off-duty adult use.

At a Feb. 12, 2026 public meeting, advocates asked the Commission to support home grow and higher purchase limits. We found no rule change on either point.

Opening a Dispensary in New Jersey

Licensing open under rules (confirm window) Regulator: New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission

New Jersey issues cannabis business licenses through the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The rule N.J.A.C. 17:30-7.17 sets a $200 submission fee and an $800 approval fee for a standard conditional license, and a $400 submission fee plus a $1,600 approval fee for a standard annual application. Microbusinesses pay half. A conditional holder has 165 days to apply to convert to an annual license. For the annual retail fee, sources disagree: $10,000 is the most consistently reported figure, but one guide lists $10,000 plus $20,000 for a standard license. One source says retail licensees can open up to three satellite locations starting April 20, 2026.

License	Application Fee	License Fee	Renewal	Notes
Retail (Class 5), conditional	$200 submission	$800 approval	Annual fee reported at $10,000	Cornell copy of N.J.A.C. 17:30-7.17 is dated. Check the Commission's current schedule.
Standard annual license	$400 submission	$1,600 approval	Annual fee reported at $10,000	Microbusinesses pay half of each application fee.

What to Plan For

Conditional holders have 165 days to apply to convert to an annual license.
Local zoning and municipal approval apply. Many New Jersey towns have banned or limited cannabis businesses.
The first-year annual fee is reduced by application and approval fees already paid, according to one fee summary.

Startup Budget Planner

The sourced state fees are filled in. Enter your own quotes for the rest. We do not estimate build-out or inventory because they vary by site and operator.

Conditional license submission and approval fees: $1,000
$200 plus $800 under N.J.A.C. 17:30-7.17.
Annual retail license fee (reported): $10,000 to $30,000
Sources disagree. $10,000 is most common, one guide lists $10,000 plus $20,000.

Lease deposit and build-outSecurity and technologyOpening inventoryInsurance and legalWorking capitalLocal permits and fees

Fees are only part of the cost. Federal law still applies to cannabis businesses, so talk to a cannabis attorney and an accountant before you commit money. Fee figures come from the sources below and change, so confirm them with the regulator. Related reading: CannaWize Business Desk, 280E and Schedule III for Cannabis Businesses, Cannabis Banking Costs and the GAO Report, Licensing Lawsuits and State Markets.

Business sources:

How New Jersey Compares


Arizona	Legal	Active	$150 (card term not stated)	Not stated	Fees disputed
Arkansas	Not legal	Active	$50 per year	1 year	Fees not found
California	Legal	Optional county card	Varies by county	Varies	$1,000 + $2,500 to $96,000
Colorado	Legal	Active	$52 per year	1 year	About $3,120 state + local
Florida	Not legal	Active	$75 per year	1 year	No window open (Oct. 2026 guide)
Georgia	Not legal	Active	$75 from Dec. 5, 2026	Not stated	$5,000 + tiered fees
Illinois	Legal	Active	$50 per year	1 to 3 years	$5,000 + $60,000
Louisiana	Not legal	Active	Not found	Up to 12 months	Limited permits
Massachusetts	Legal	Active	Free registration	Not stated	$1,500 + $10,000
Michigan	Legal	Active	$40 per two years	2 years	$3,000 + $15,000
Missouri	Legal	Active	$28.92 renewal per three years	3 years	Microbusiness lottery, about $1,637
New Jersey	Legal	Active	Free digital, $10 printed	2 years	Conditional route, $1,000 up front
New Mexico	Legal	Active	Not found	Not found	$2,500 per year (reported)
New York	Legal	Active	No state fee	Not stated	$1,000 + $7,000
North Carolina	Not legal	None	No program	Not applicable	No state license
Ohio	Legal	Active	$50 per year	1 year	Capped at 400
Oklahoma	Not legal	Active	$100 per two years	2 years	Moratorium to Aug. 1, 2028
Pennsylvania	Not legal	Active	$50 per year	Up to 1 year	Closed per one 2026 guide
Texas	Not legal	Active	See guide	See guide	See guide
Virginia	Legal, no stores yet	Active	$50 per year	Up to 1 year	Opens Feb. 1, 2027 (draft)

New Jersey Cannabis Timeline

2020Voters approve adult-use cannabis.
Dec. 2023The Commission waives electronic card fees and sets the printed card at $10.
Feb. 12, 2026Advocates press the Commission at a public meeting for home grow and higher purchase limits.
Apr. 20, 2026One source says retail licensees may open up to three satellite locations.
May 29, 2026A5051 on hemp, hemp beverages and medical cannabis restrictions becomes law.
2027 sessionS 2564, S 1758, S 3171 and S 784 carry over.

New Jersey Cannabis Bills

Enacted A5051: Hemp, intoxicating hemp beverages and medical cannabis restrictions. Last action May 29, 2026.
Carryover S 2564: Home grow: six plants for adults, ten for patients.
Carryover S 1758: Home grow for medical patients or caregivers.
Carryover S 3171: Makes buying from unlicensed sellers a crime.
Carryover S 784: Weakens off-duty employment protections for adult use.

See every state in the cannabis bill tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Cannabis Laws

Is marijuana legal in New Jersey?

Yes for adults 21 and older. Adults may have up to 6 ounces, and licensed dispensaries sell up to 1 ounce per transaction.

Can I grow marijuana at home in New Jersey?

No. The Commission says only the Legislature can authorize home growing, and medicinal patients cannot grow either. Senate Bill 2564 would change that.

How much is a New Jersey medicinal cannabis card?

A digital card is free and a printed card costs $10. Both are valid for two years.

When can I renew my New Jersey card?

Up to 60 days before it expires. Use a recent photo.

Can I give marijuana to a friend?

Adults 21 and older may give up to 1 ounce to another adult 21 or older, as long as no payment is accepted.

How much does a New Jersey retail license cost?

A standard conditional license is $200 to submit and $800 on approval. Annual fees for retail are reported at $10,000, but sources disagree, so check the Commission's schedule.