New Jersey starts legal recreational marijuana sales today

The numbers "421" have apparently eclipsed "420" at least in New Jersey, where cannabis consumers celebrated Thursday's first day of legalized pot sales and toking up for adults.

Weed buyers lined up before sunrise outside recreational cannabis dispensaries across the Garden State waiting for the doors to open and lay down some green for some green for the first time without a medical excuse or legal risk.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission described the opening day as "robust" and reported long lines at some of the 12 dispensaries greenlighted to do business Thursday. The commission said in a statement it had investigated only a few minor complaints and heard of "no significant patient access issues or supply shortages."

“We encourage everyone to be safe by buying only from licensed dispensaries and by starting low and going slow -- especially those who are new to cannabis or who haven’t consumed cannabis in a long time," executive director Jeff Brown, the executive director of the commission said in a statement. “Also, remember that the laws against impaired driving apply to being high. Our guests from neighboring states should remember it is illegal to transport cannabis across state lines."

The first customer in line outside the RISE dispensary in Bloomfield described the moment as "Christmas morning."

"I didn't even sleep tonight," Chris, who was in line before 6 a.m., told New York City ABC station WABC. "I was, like, working a later night, and I just knew I had to be here. I just want to be part of that. Today is the day that we're just free to do it without any consequences."

The landmark day comes 17 months after New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to change the state constitution to allow for marijuana legalization.

State officials purposely chose April 21 for the inaugural day to legally light up to avoid dispensaries being overwhelmed with business on April 20, the traditional day pot smokers worldwide celebrate weed.

New Jersey becomes the 18th state in the nation to legalize the sale of recreational pot to consumers 21 and older. Vermont became the first state in 2018 to do so. Washington, D.C., and Guam, an unincorporated U.S. territory, also allow legal cannabis commerce.

"This is a historic step in our work to create a new cannabis industry," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said ahead of the launch.

State regulators approved permits for 12 dispensaries that already sell medical marijuana to start retailing recreational weed on Thursday.

State officials said they are considering more than 300 applications for retail cannabis licenses. New Jersey is prioritizing granting licenses to dispensaries run by minorities, women and disabled veterans, especially those whose careers have been harmed by marijuana convictions on their records.

Recreational cannabis dispensaries that opened Thursday, include ones in Patterson, Maplewood, Phillipsburg, Rochelle Park, Elizabeth and Lawrence Township. Most of the stores plan to stay open until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.

The dispensaries are only accepting cash purchases because under federal law marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 drug, a status that discourages banks and credit card companies from extending services to cannabis operations.

Consumer purchases are being limited to an ounce of flower products, or 5 grams of concentrates, resins, or oils; or ten 100-milligram packages of edibles, according to the commission.

The House of Representatives voted this month to approve legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and remove criminal penalties for certain cannabis-related offenses. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has vowed to make marijuana legislation a priority and is working on a separate bill with Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., expected to be introduced soon but would need all Democrats and at least 10 Republicans to pass the Senate.

Melissa Correa of Plainfield told WABC that the historic day in New Jersey was extra special because it falls on her 42nd birthday.

Waiting to make a purchase of some party favors at the RISE dispensary in Bloomfield, Correa said, "It looks great. It smells great."