Can you smoke weed in public? What you need to know in New Jersey
As summer rolls in, more people are out and about, and you might notice the distinct smell of pot wafting through the air. Cannabis, whether you call it weed, pot, dope, grass, herb, or reefer, goes by many names. But before you light up, there are a few things you should know.
Recreational marijuana is legal in New Jersey. But what does that really mean? Can you smoke weed in public?
According to NJ’s Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act, the sale and use of weed and other cannabis products is legal for adults over 21.
However, the law doesn’t give users free range to light up anywhere.
New Jersey’s laws on marijuana say it’s illegal to use weed in public places where smoking is prohibited by the New Jersey Smokefree Air Act (NJ SFAA).
So, restaurants, schools, gyms and libraries are clearly pot-free spots. But where else should you not be smelling someone else’s recreational marijuana?
Bottom line, pot is only legal on private property where the owner allows it — and is allowed to allow it.