The basics:

• Rise Paramus begins selling recreational cannabis
• Dispensary previously served only medical marijuana patients
• New state law allows certain medical dispensaries to expand despite local bans
• Paramus officials, municipal groups opposed licensing change

Green Thumb Industries will begin selling recreational cannabis at its Rise dispensary in Paramus July 24.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission recently approved the multistate operator’s application to expand into the personal-use market. Now, the Route 4 storefront can serve adult-use customers.

Previously, borough code permitted the five-year-old shop to exclusively offer medical cannabis.

Paramus is among the three municipalities in the state that allow selling marijuana only to patients enrolled in a medical cannabis program. Cranbury and Secaucus have similar rules for each town’s one dispensary.

However, following recently signed legislation by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, certain medical cannabis dispensaries can expand into the recreational marijuana market regardless of local bans on adult-use sales.

Under the law, the three existing medical marijuana dispensaries that received local approval to operate before New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis can now obtain a Class 5 cannabis retailer license without securing additional approval from the municipality where they are located.

Cannabis controversy

Supporters of the measure believe that municipalities already approved those facilities as cannabis businesses. They say that requiring another round of local authorization creates unnecessary barriers for operators seeking to participate in the state’s growing adult-use market.

Critics feel the law overrides decisions made by towns that chose to prohibit recreational cannabis sales.

State voters approved marijuana legalization statewide in 2020. Since New Jersey launched legalized adult-use sales in April 2022, more than 300 dispensaries have opened across the state.

In 2025, New Jersey recorded nearly $1.2 billion in recreational and medical cannabis sales.

Ahead of the April 2022 launch of legalized adult-use sales, municipalities were given a choice to opt in – or out – of permitting cannabusinesses within their communities. Currently, about two thirds of New Jersey’s 564 towns have decided against allowing some form of cannabis sales, whether recreational or medical.

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities has opposed the law.

‘It’s a slap in the face’

Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza  has said he believes the legislation sets a dangerous precedent. The Republican was elected in November 2022 after serving as a borough councilman.

He previously told NJBIZ, “The idea that Trenton and state legislators can come in and overrule zoning ordinances and municipal dos or do nots in town, it is scary for the whole state. The governing body in Paramus is elected by Paramus residents. The planning boards and the zoning boards are appointed by that elected government. And we have all decided that recreational use is not permitted in Paramus, and we have been rewarded at the ballot box because of that.

“And for people in Trenton that do not represent Paramus, to do that is not democratic and it’s a slap in the face,” he said. “It’s insulting. And it should worry all 564 mayors in the state.”

Regulating sales

The legislation was sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-22nd District; Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, D-18th District; Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, D-20th District; and Assemblyman William Sampson IV, D-31st District, sponsored the legislation.

The licensing change became law May 29 as part of a broader package regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products and cannabis sales in the state.

The legislation primarily focuses on regulating intoxicating hemp products, such as those containing delta-8 THC and similar cannabinoids commonly sold in convenience stores and smoke shops. It also delays enforcement of the state’s restrictions on those products until Nov. 13, 2026. The window aims to give regulators time to align New Jersey’s rules with anticipated federal guidance on hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Rolling out the celebration

Besides Paramus, GTI has dispensaries in Bloomfield and Paterson. Altogether, the Chicago-based MSO has 120 retail locations across 14 U.S. markets.

GTI said it is “thrilled to expand to adult-use customers” in Paramus.

To celebrate the launch, the store will host a two-day celebration starting July 24. The event will feature food trucks, in-store popups, raffles and entertainment. Rise said it will also donate some of its profits to the Paramus Community Pantry.

According to Rise, the July 24 festivities will run from 4–7 p.m. and include a visit from Empanada Mania Food Truck.

The July 25 event will take palce from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the Chicken & Waffles On Wheels Food Truck, there will be a magic show from mentalist Dustin Dean.