Cannabis is legal in New Jersey, but not all cannabis products are created equal in terms of quality or safety.
In particular, the gas station weed that can be found throughout New Jersey (and the whole country) should be avoided.
Understanding how gas station weed and dispensary cannabis differ in testing and packaging requirements — and their general regulatory environments — explains why.
What is gas station weed?
“Gas station weed” is the term for hemp-derived products that take advantage of a legal loophole, allowing for their sale at everyday locations such as gas stations.
Gas station weed contains alternatives to delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the primary intoxicating cannabinoid found in licensed cannabis products in the dispensary.
These alternative types of THC are often synthesized from Cannabidiol (CBD), which is found in hemp plants. For this reason, they are often called hemp-derived cannabinoids, and the FDA doesn’t evaluate or regulate them.
These products are also not subject to the same stringent regulations and testing requirements as those sold at licensed dispensaries, including testing and safety requirements.
Given the lack of regulations governing these products, their full compound profile is never entirely known, and there’s no guarantee that they’re free of contaminants like mold, heavy metals, or residual solvents.
You may see gas station weed products marketed as “safe” alternatives to cannabis, but given the regulatory vacuum around them, this marketing is misleading, if not wholly inaccurate.
What’s in gas station weed?
Delta-8 THC
This cannabinoid occurs in trace amounts in the cannabis plant. It is thought to be between 50 and 75 percent as potent as delta-9 THC, though it often appears in high concentrations in gas station weed products.
In other words, although this cannabinoid generally produces a less potent experience than delta-9 THC, it is usually present in far higher amounts in these non-licensed products, which can result in an overwhelming experience.
Although the side effects of delta-8 THC have not been scientifically studied in great detail, there have been some reports of negative side effects, including hospitalizations and even coma.
These adverse effects may be due to the extreme concentrations of delta-8 THC in these illicit products, rather than the cannabinoid itself.
Delta-10 THC
Delta-10 THC is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid produced through a chemical process in which CBD is exposed to an acidic catalyst.
Delta-10 THC products lack rigorous testing requirements, just as with delta-8, meaning that delta-10 products could contain harmful levels of undesirable compounds like heavy metals, mold, or residual solvents.
And as with delta-8, the side effects of delta-10 have yet to be scientifically studied.
THC-O
THC-O is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid that is far more potent than delta-9 THC, albeit with a longer onset time.
That’s why THC-O consumers often feel overwhelmed and generally unpleasant, sometimes even to dangerous extents.
This outcome is less likely with delta-9 THC, especially in the modest dosages offered at licensed dispensaries.
K2
Also known as “spice,” the synthetic cannabinoid K2 is often sold as “herbal incense” or “potpourri.”
The side effects of K2 have not been extensively studied, but anecdotal reports are concerning.
For some consumers, K2 has led to unconsciousness, seizures, and vomiting.
Other substances than those listed on the packaging
As an unregulated product, gas station weed’s packaging often doesn’t detail its contents as is required of products sold at licensed dispensaries.
If the packaging does detail the contents, that information is likely unreliable and unverified by a third party.
A 2025 study reported in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found that 39% of supposedly CBD-only products also contained THC — which, unlike CBD, is intoxicating.
This mislabeling makes it easy to consume too much and experience unwanted side effects.
Additionally, according to the study, 70% of gas station weed products labeled as CBD-only contained at least 10% more CBD than the amount listed.
Researchers have also found that gas station weed often contains contaminants and additives, such as residual solvents and heavy metals.
Licensed cannabis products undergo required testing for potency and contaminants, but gas station weed does not.
Why does gas station weed exist?
The lack of regulations around gas station weed stems from a loophole in a federal law known as the 2018 Farm Bill.
This bill legalized hemp that contains at most 0.3 percent delta-9 THC.
However, the Farm Bill did not set limits on the content of other forms of THC.
As such, a loophole initially emerged through which all forms of THC derived from hemp plants became fully legal in all quantities, for all ages.
How is New Jersey regulating gas station weed?
New Jersey laws that went into effect in September 2024 banned the sale of delta-8 THC products to those under 21 years and required they only be soldat licensed cannabis dispensaries.
These regulations also banned the sale of products containing delta-10 THC, THC-O, and most other hemp-derived cannabinoids.
However, a federal judge struck down parts of the law, claiming it conflicted with the federal 2018 Farm Bill. As a result, New Jersey has limited the new regulations to synthetic cannabinoids like delta-10 THC and THC-O.
Delta-8 THC remains available to consumers 21 years of age and older at non-licensed retail locations.
Any cannabis products sold at gas stations are not held to the same testing, labeling, and packaging requirements as licensed cannabis businesses producing and selling delta-9 THC products derived from the cannabis plant.
Who can buy gas station weed?
Although it is illegal to sell products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids to anyone under the age of 21 in New Jersey, illicit sales continue.
If you’re a parent, you may want to talk to your kids about cannabis and discourage them from buying gas station weed.
This is especially important since, in some cases, gas station weed is marketed on social media and packaged in a manner that appeals primarily to teens.
“Gas station weed” doesn’t mean it always comes from a gas station, either; this term is also used to describe low-quality, unregulated products sold in any location besides gas stations, including online.
By contrast, New Jersey allows only people 21 years of age or older to enter and shop at licensed cannabis dispensaries unless they are an approved patient in the state’s medical marijuana program.
Why is licensed dispensary cannabis better?
All cannabis sold at a licensed dispensary is regulated, tested, and transparent by law.
In New Jersey, testing requirements are extensive and clearly laid out in the state government’s 36-page testing guidance document.
Alongside cannabinoid and terpene testing, initial testing must also cover properties such as foreign material, residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, and moisture content.
New Jersey also strictly regulates cannabis packaging, so products you buy at a licensed dispensary will clearly indicate the cannabinoid content per serving and provide consumption instructions — and you can trust that the information is accurate.
What’s in dispensary cannabis?
When you see the term “THC” used in a dispensary context, it means delta-9 THC originating from the cannabis plant.
Since delta-9 THC is abundant in naturally occurring cannabis, it doesn’t require an additional process to create.
The THC in dispensary cannabis is often associated with potential benefits such as melting stress away, helping with sleep disruptions, and boosting one’s mood.
It only takes one look at the label to see how much THC (and, often, minor cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, and CBN) is present. For edibles, you may also see inactive ingredients listed, such as sugar.
Terpene information may be present on your product’s packaging, but if not, scan the QR code on the packaging. Doing so should direct you to your product’s certificate of analysis (COA), which details all the results of its regulated, mandated lab testing.
There’s no question about what’s in dispensary cannabis — it’s all easy to find.
Who can buy cannabis from a dispensary?
In New Jersey, anyone age 21 or older who displays a valid, unexpired passport or state-issued ID (from any state, not just New Jersey) can enter a recreational dispensary to buy cannabis.
There is anecdotal evidence that, in markets where recreational cannabis is legal, most consumers choose dispensaries over gas stations.
They’re right to do so given the concerns about quality and transparency with gas station weed.
Comparison table: dispensary cannabis vs. gas station weed
This table summarizes why dispensary cannabis is superior to gas station weed in terms of its quality and transparency.
| Difference | Dispensary cannabis | Gas station weed |
| Contents | Delta-9 THC and terpenes; additional contents only within regulated limits | Hemp-derived cannabinoids; solvents, heavy metals, unknown other contaminants |
| Labeling | Tells you exactly what’s in the product | Does not indicate what’s in the product, or reports this information inaccurately |
| Dosing amounts and consumption instructions | Clearly indicated | Not indicated |
| Who can buy it | Only people 21 or older who present valid ID | Anyone, from now until regulations start being enforced; then, will be only people 21 or older who present valid ID |
| Regulatory environment | State-regulated | Minimal at the federal level; illegal in New Jersey, but sales persist |
Why you should always choose cannabis from a dispensary
It’s always worth it to choose tested, regulated cannabis over untested, unregulated gas station weed.
However, some people may still opt for cheap gas station weed — and that’s a mistake.
With cannabis, as with anything you can buy, you get what you pay for. After all, cheap products are rarely of trustworthy quality.
Plus, only at a dispensary can you get personalized support from knowledgeable, friendly staff in deciding which cannabis products are best for your exact needs and learning how to consume them.
Dispensaries also keep your experience discreet, removing any stigma as you explore cannabis, ask questions, and work with specialists to figure out how cannabis can support your holistic well-being.
Moreover, dispensaries are often small local businesses, whereas gas stations are often owned by large corporations.
Choosing dispensary weed means supporting and elevating your local community, and at Blue Oak in Bloomfield, that’s among our core values.
Shop for top-quality cannabis at Blue Oak
Our premium cannabis goods at Blue Oak are transparently packaged and thoroughly tested, and our customers love the experiences they deliver.
Chat with our expert sales specialists to discover which items on our menu may best suit your wellness journey.
Or, schedule a private consultation and tour at our woman-owned, independent cannabis boutique — it’s our honor to connect you with New Jersey’s best cannabis.
