New Poll Reveals Surprising Attitudes Towards New Jersey's Expensive Cannabis

New Jersey's rollout of legal recreational marijuana has been far from smooth, but a recent poll reveals that consumers are willing to pay a premium for safe, quality weed.

Despite being among the most expensive cannabis in the country, one-third of adults in NJ have used cannabis products since legal recreational marijuana made its debut last April and nearly 70% have purchased from a licensed dispensary, per NJ.com True Jersey.

What Jerseyans Say

The poll conducted by Stockton University found that 86% of those who bought from a licensed dispensary were either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, citing the safety and quality of the product as the main reasons.

However, there are still some hurdles for the legal weed industry to overcome. The high prices and taxes at legal dispensaries were cited as the reason for purchasing from non-licensed dealers by 18% of users, per the poll of 660 New Jersey adults conducted April 1-14, 2023.

Another major reason given for buying weed on the street was the lack of a legal dispensary nearby. With only 24 retail shops across the state, there seems to be untapped potential in legal sales and tax revenue.

The poll also reveals that Jerseyans are split on the issue of local dispensaries, with 53% supporting and 39% opposing them.

There is also a divide on regulations for New Jersey breweries, with 78% of adults saying they should be allowed to sell food, while only 26% supported restrictions that limit breweries to 25 special events per year and prohibit them from selling food.

The poll's findings shed light on the challenges facing the legal weed industry in New Jersey, but also demonstrate that consumers are willing to pay a premium for safe and high-quality products.

The successful revenue increase of Verano Holdings Corp. VRNOF in 2022 highlights the immense potential for growth and improvement in NJ's legal weed industry. With the growing demand for legal cannabis products, the industry can generate substantial sales and tax revenue, benefiting the state and businesses alike.

Photo: Courtesy Of Matt Nelson On Unsplash