Cannabis delivery has become a growing part of New Jersey’s legal market, offering consumers a convenient way to purchase regulated products while creating new opportunities for licensed businesses. Understanding the statewide rules—along with Atlantic City’s local ordinances—helps clarify what is allowed and how delivery operates in practice.
New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis system was created under the CREAMM Act and is overseen by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). Among its commercial license types is the Class 6 Delivery license, which allows a business to transport recreational cannabis purchased from a licensed retailer directly to a consumer’s home. Delivery licensees may act as couriers for dispensaries and, in some cases, collect orders from consumers before submitting them to a retailer for fulfillment. They are not allowed to cultivate, manufacture, or package cannabis and cannot sell to other businesses.
A defining feature of New Jersey’s legalization framework is strong municipal control. Towns and cities may choose whether to allow cannabis businesses—such as cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers—within their borders. They also may regulate operating hours, zoning, and store-front caps. However, the law includes one critical limitation: municipalities cannot prohibit cannabis delivery into their jurisdiction. Even if a town bans dispensaries, licensed delivery services and dispensaries located elsewhere in New Jersey may still legally deliver orders to residents.
For consumers, delivery follows the same adult-use rules that apply to in-store purchases. Adults 21 and older may buy and possess up to six ounces of cannabis or cannabis products. Deliveries must be made by a CRC-licensed retailer or Class 6 delivery service, and customers must show valid identification when the order arrives. Orders are tracked electronically, and delivery drivers must follow strict rules linking them to a licensed operator—ensuring that all sales remain tied to the state’s regulated system.
CRC regulations also impose detailed transport and security requirements. Delivery vehicles must include secure lockboxes, alarms, and real-time tracking. Drivers can only carry a limited amount of cannabis at any time and must follow inventory rules that prevent on-the-spot or unlogged sales. Deliveries must be pre-ordered, verified, and recorded, reinforcing the CRC’s focus on safe, traceable transactions.
Atlantic City has embraced the legal cannabis market and adopted local ordinances regulating how businesses operate. Retailers in Atlantic City must accept purchases for pickup by licensed delivery services, ensuring that consumers can receive legal cannabis at home even when ordering from a local dispensary. The city also regulates cannabis consumption areas, requiring both city approval and CRC endorsement before these venues can open.
In 2024, Atlantic City moved to cap the number of cannabis retailers at 16, a decision based on concerns about oversaturation and long-term business viability. This ordinance affects how many dispensaries may operate within city limits, potentially shaping which local storefronts can provide delivery. Still, the cap does not limit delivery into Atlantic City itself—state law prevents municipalities from blocking deliveries by licensed operators, regardless of where those operators are located.
For Atlantic City consumers, the rules are straightforward: buy only from CRC-licensed retailers or delivery services, provide valid ID at the door, and stay within New Jersey’s possession limits. For businesses, compliance requires the proper license—particularly Class 6 for delivery companies—plus adherence to CRC security, verification, and recordkeeping requirements.
Together, New Jersey’s statewide framework and Atlantic City’s local ordinances create a regulated system designed to expand access, support public safety, and allow home delivery to operate smoothly across the state.