New Jersey -- New Jersey has taken another step forward in its recreational marijuana rollout, now allowing adults to use cannabis products in designated public spaces. While home use has been permitted since dispensaries began operating in 2022, smoking in public has remained off-limits until now. The state has officially opened its first cannabis lounges, giving people a legal, controlled environment to enjoy marijuana outside their homes. These new venues are designed specifically for social use, offering a setting more like a lounge or coffee bar than a nightclub. Patrons can bring legally purchased products and use them on-site, following state and local rules.
Four lounges are now open to the public: High Rollers Dispensary in Atlantic City, SunnyTien Dispensary in Atlantic City
as well as Gynsyng in Merchantville (Camden County) and URB'N Dispensary in Newark. These locations mark the beginning of a new phase in New Jersey’s cannabis market, creating social spaces for marijuana users while maintaining regulation and oversight. It’s a shift from private-only use to a more public, community-centered model—one focused on safety, accessibility, and adult responsibility.