Recreational Cannabis

The City of Camden has adopted a recreational cannabis ordinance allowing a certain number of licenses in each class in certain zones in the City of Camden.  This ordinance can be found below along with Cannabis Zone Map and the Application for a Recreational Cannabis License.  The City aims to provide ample information to Applicants seeking a recreational cannabis license in the City of Camden and the requirements established by the City of Camden through its ordinance.

Effective May 16, 2023, the City Council imposed a temporary moratorium on recreational cannabis licenses to determine if amendments to existing ordinances governing recreational cannabis should be adopted in order to better serve the Camden community. This moratorium prohibits the City from accepting new applications until the City Council lifts the moratorium or August 1st, 2023, whichever comes first. Any applications which were received by the City before May 16, 2023 are not impacted by the moratorium.

Completed applications, including the application fee, must be delivered to the Municipal Clerks’ Office, City Hall, Room 105, 520 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08101.  The envelope shall be plainly marked indicating that a recreational cannabis license application is enclosed.  Any incomplete applications will be returned.  The City will review the application, including conducting a background check.  Follow-up questions, if needed, may be required of the applicant by the Interview Committee.  An interview process, if needed, will then take place with a Committee led by the Business Administrator.

The CREAMM Act authorizes municipalities to enact ordinances or regulations governing the number of cannabis establishments within their borders. Each city, town, township, village, or borough is responsible for establishing its own rules for getting local approval to operate a cannabis business in the jurisdiction.  View CREAMM Act by clicking here.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission seeks to establish and grow a responsible, regulated medicinal and recreational cannabis industry. By applying the values of safety and equity, the Commission will center its work around creating and protecting access for patients, the production of safe products, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry to develop a national model for sensible, fair oversight.

Visit NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

NJ Recreational Cannabis Businesses Application Process and FAQ’s