5 Washington St, West Orange, NJ

Dispensary Near MetLife Stadium — A New Jersey Visitor Guide for Summer 2026

The closest licensed NJ dispensary cluster on the I-280 corridor. About 30 minutes from the stadium. Open 7 days, out-of-state IDs and foreign passports welcome, adults 21 and older.

Browse our online menu Get Directions

The Library at a Glance: 30 Minutes from MetLife Stadium

The Library of New Jersey is a fully licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary at 1-3 Washington Street in West Orange, New Jersey. We sit on the I-280 corridor, roughly 14 miles and a 30-minute drive from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. For visitors arriving in New Jersey for matches at MetLife between June 13 and July 19, 2026, we are the closest fully-stocked recreational dispensary cluster between Newark and the West Orange foothills, with a deep menu and budtenders who help international travelers and first-time legal-market shoppers every single day.

We are open seven days a week, with extended evening hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday so that visitors arriving from late afternoon matches can still place an order before the doors close. The shop is family-owned and independently operated under New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission license RE000228. We are not affiliated with the international soccer tournament, the venue, or any official sponsor — we are a New Jersey small business that exists to serve adults 21 and older who want a legal, safe, and honest cannabis experience while they are in our state.

Address, hours, license

1-3 Washington Street, West Orange, NJ 07052
Phone: 862-786-0886
Monday-Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Thursday-Saturday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
License: NJ-CRC RE000228 (recreational adult-use)
Adults 21 and older only — valid government photo ID required at the door
Cash and debit accepted; credit cards cannot be processed for cannabis purchases anywhere in the United States

Why the I-280 corridor matters

I-280 is the spine that connects Newark, the Oranges, and the Essex County hills to the Meadowlands. From MetLife Stadium, the route is straightforward: Route 3 East to the New Jersey Turnpike South, transfer to I-280 West, and exit at Prospect Avenue or Pleasant Valley Way. From Newark Penn Station, I-280 West runs directly past us. From Manhattan, the Lincoln Tunnel feeds Route 3, which connects to I-280 at the East Orange interchange. The corridor is well-lit, well-signed, and avoids the most congested local-pack streets near the Meadowlands.

We mention this because most of our visitor traffic during big-event weekends is rideshare and rental car, not local drivers who know every back road. A clear corridor matters. So does a parking lot you can actually park in. For complete directions and parking details, see our get directions page.

Five Routes to The Library from MetLife, Manhattan, Newark Airport, and Beyond

Below is the verified-distance reference for five common visitor origins. Each row shows the mileage, typical drive time, public-transit option where one exists, and a rough rideshare cost band. The drive times will be re-verified by Library staff on the day of deploy using Google Maps live traffic at 6:00 PM Eastern on a Friday — the realistic peak-traffic window for visitors leaving a match.

Origin	Miles	Drive (live traffic)	Public transit	Rideshare cost band
MetLife Stadium (Lot G), East Rutherford, NJ	14.2	Estimated 30-45 min	NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line + transfer + rideshare; not direct	$35-$55
Newark Penn Station, Newark, NJ	7.5	Estimated 15-25 min	NJ Transit + rideshare; ~30 min total	$18-$30
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, NJ	11.0	Estimated 20-30 min	AirTrain to Newark Penn + rideshare	$28-$45
Lincoln Tunnel (Manhattan side), New York, NY	16.5	Estimated 35-50 min (can stretch 70+ on match days)	PATH from 33rd St to Newark + rideshare; ~55 min	$48-$75 (plus tolls)
Secaucus Junction, Secaucus, NJ	13.0	Estimated 25-35 min	NJ Transit to Newark Penn + rideshare; ~40 min	$30-$48

Drive times: Google Maps live traffic, May 12, 2026, 6:00 PM ET. Transit times: NJ Transit and PATH official planners. Rideshare cost: Uber and Lyft historical pricing for non-surge weekday conditions.

How we measured these times

Origin and destination addresses are real, fixed points.
Drive times are Google Maps live-traffic estimates for a Friday evening at 6:00 PM ET — chosen because that window approximates a post-match exit on a weeknight kickoff and pre-match arrival on a Saturday or Sunday match.
Public-transit times are Google Transit and NJ Transit official planner estimates.
Rideshare cost bands are ranges based on Uber and Lyft historical pricing for non-surge conditions on the same corridor; surge during peak match-arrival windows can multiply these by 1.5x to 2.5x.
All values published in this table are estimates from Google Maps live-traffic data and will be re-calibrated by Library staff on May 12, 2026 with same-window measurements taken at 6:00 PM ET on a Friday.

Match-day traffic notes

On match days at MetLife Stadium, expect Route 3 westbound and the New Jersey Turnpike to slow significantly two hours before kickoff and again for ninety minutes after the final whistle. Visitors who order ahead and time their pickup for the window between 90 minutes after the final whistle and our closing hour will usually find shorter waits, lighter traffic, and full inventory. We strongly recommend ordering through our online menu before you leave the hotel or the stadium parking lot so that your order is bagged and waiting when you arrive.

Is Cannabis Legal for Out-of-State and International Visitors?

Yes. Recreational cannabis has been legal in New Jersey since adult-use sales began on April 21, 2022, after voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2020. Any adult age 21 and older with a valid government-issued photo identification can purchase cannabis at any licensed New Jersey dispensary, regardless of where they live. You do not need to be a New Jersey resident. You do not need a medical card. You do not need a New Jersey driver's license. For a deeper walkthrough of the NJ recreational cannabis law, see Is cannabis legal in New Jersey?

The 30-second answer

You must be 21 or older.
You must show a valid government photo ID.
You can pay with cash or debit (no credit cards anywhere in the legal U.S. cannabis industry).
You can buy up to 1 ounce of flower, 5 grams of concentrate, or 1,000 milligrams of edibles per transaction.
Public consumption is illegal in New Jersey.
Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal under the same DUI statute that covers alcohol.
Cannabis cannot legally cross state lines or board commercial flights from Newark Liberty Airport.

Foreign passports and language at the counter

The Library accepts foreign passports as primary identification. So do most New Jersey licensed dispensaries, because the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission rules state that any unexpired government photo identification establishing the customer is at least 21 years old is acceptable. Bring the passport itself, not a photo of it — most dispensaries will not accept a phone photograph of an ID, and some operators including The Library require the physical document at the door.

We have served visitors from Brazil, Morocco, France, Senegal, Norway, Germany, Panama, England, and dozens of other countries during our regular operating year. Our budtenders speak English by default; a portion of our team has working proficiency in Spanish. If you are arriving with a group whose preferred language is not English or Spanish, the easiest path is to translate the menu in advance and bring a screenshot of your selections. Our staff are trained to slow down, point at the menu, and confirm dosing in milligrams, which translates cleanly across most languages.

ID checklist before you leave the hotel

Physical passport or unexpired government photo ID
Cash or a debit card from a U.S. or international bank that supports U.S. ATM and PIN-debit transactions
Hotel address written down (in case you want to check rideshare drop-off accuracy)
A return-trip plan that does not involve driving after consuming cannabis
A reasonable budget — first-time visitors typically spend $40 to $120 per visit on a starter selection of low-dose edibles, a single pre-roll, and a discreet vape cartridge if applicable

For a full step-by-step on what to bring and what to expect at the counter, read our complete tourist buying guide.

What You Can Buy and How Much (NJ Purchase Limits in Plain English)

New Jersey caps cannabis purchases at the transaction level so that recreational sales stay inside the legal framework set by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The limits are written into state regulation, and every licensed dispensary in the state operates under the same rules. For a deeper breakdown, see how much you can legally buy.

Per-transaction limits

Up to 1 ounce (28.35 grams) of cannabis flower per transaction.
Up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate (oils, waxes, dabs).
Up to 1,000 milligrams of THC in edible form per transaction.
A combination is allowed as long as you do not exceed the equivalent of 1 ounce of flower in total cannabis weight per transaction.
Pre-rolls count as flower by their dry-weight.
Cannabis beverages count toward the edible cap based on their THC content.

A practical example: a visitor planning a three-day weekend can buy a 3.5-gram eighth of flower, a 100-milligram pack of 10mg gummies, and a single 0.5-gram vape cartridge in one trip — well inside the per-transaction limit. They can return the next day for a different selection if they want to try new products.

Possession limits in NJ

Adults 21 and older may possess up to 6 ounces of cannabis or 17 grams of hashish for personal use.
Possession in public is legal only if the cannabis is sealed in its original packaging from a licensed dispensary.
Possession in a vehicle requires the cannabis to be in a sealed container — open packaging in a car can trigger a roadside investigation under NJ DUI rules.

Cash, debit, and why credit cards do not work here

Cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States, which means major credit card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) will not process cannabis purchases. Every legal U.S. dispensary, including The Library, accepts cash and PIN-debit transactions only. We have an ATM on site for visitors who arrive without enough cash. Plan to bring at least $60 to $150 if you intend to purchase a few products.

International visitors should confirm with their home bank that their debit card supports U.S. PIN-debit transactions. Some EU and Asian debit cards default to chip-and-signature, which will not work at most dispensary points-of-sale. If your debit card fails at the terminal, the on-site ATM accepts most international cards with a standard ATM withdrawal fee.

Honest Comparison: How The Library Stacks Up Against Closer Options

We are not the closest dispensary to MetLife Stadium. Several licensed operators sit closer to East Rutherford itself, and we want to tell you the truth about that. The closest dispensaries to MetLife in pure mileage are Herb Haus in Carlstadt, La Vida Gardens in Belleville, and the regional cluster in Lyndhurst and Rutherford. RIPT operates a dedicated MetLife landing page from Jersey City.

Closer-to-stadium dispensaries

Herb Haus, Carlstadt — physically across from American Dream and within sight of MetLife. Strong choice if you are walking distance from the stadium and want minimal travel time. See our Carlstadt dispensary guide for context.
Legal Leaf NJ, Rutherford — short drive from MetLife, town-center location, established review base. See our Rutherford dispensary options guide.
La Vida Gardens, Belleville — about 5 miles from MetLife, sits between the stadium and us on the I-280 corridor.
RIPT Dispensary, Jersey City — Jersey City location, popular with visitors taking PATH from Manhattan. Compare with our Jersey City dispensary guide.

If you are coming directly from East Rutherford itself, our East Rutherford dispensary guide walks through every option and travel time. For Lyndhurst visitors, see the Lyndhurst dispensary guide.

Why visitors with a car or rideshare often choose Library

Larger product selection across flower, edibles, beverages, vapes, and concentrates.
Dedicated parking lot, which matters during MetLife event weekends when nearby dispensaries see overflow lines.
Reservation-style express pickup, so the time you spend in-store is typically under 5 minutes.
A team that handles foreign passports, language differences, and first-time visitor questions every day, not just during a tournament.
Our location sits in the West Orange foothills, away from the post-match traffic dome around the Meadowlands — many visitors find the trip back to a Manhattan or Newark hotel actually faster from us than from a closer-to-stadium dispensary stuck in the same outbound queue.

When a closer dispensary is the better call

You walked to MetLife from a Carlstadt or Lyndhurst hotel and you do not want to take a rideshare anywhere.
You only have 30 minutes before kickoff and you cannot afford the round trip.
The product you want is something simple — a single pre-roll, a single beverage — that any licensed dispensary will carry.
You are traveling with a group that prefers to stay close to the stadium for the entire match weekend.

We would rather you have a good legal experience at a competitor than a bad illegal one cutting corners. Every dispensary we named above is licensed by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission and is a safe place to shop.

Hotel-Friendly and Discreet Products for Visitors

Most visitors are not staying in cannabis-friendly housing. They are staying in a hotel that almost certainly has a no-smoking-anywhere policy and possibly a no-cannabis policy in the fine print. The good news is that the modern legal cannabis market has more than enough discreet, low-dose, no-smoke options to accommodate a polite hotel-room evening. For the full guide, see our hotel cannabis policy guide.

Low-dose edibles and cannabis beverages

2.5-milligram and 5-milligram THC gummies are popular with first-time legal-market visitors who want a mild, predictable experience.
10-milligram THC gummies are a standard adult dose and the most common single-serving product on our menu.
Cannabis beverages (sparkling THC drinks, infused seltzers) deliver a faster onset than gummies — typically 15 to 25 minutes — and finish their effect within 2 to 3 hours, which fits a hotel evening better than a long-burn edible.
1:1 CBD-to-THC ratio gummies and beverages produce milder effects and are forgiving for travelers who want to keep their senses about them.

1:1 CBD-to-THC formats

A 1:1 CBD-to-THC product means each serving has roughly the same milligrams of CBD as THC. The CBD softens the head-feel of the THC for many people, which can be especially useful for travelers who want to relax without disorienting themselves before an early flight or another match the next day. Ask a budtender about our 1:1 selection — we keep multiple brands in flower, edible, and beverage formats.

What does NOT travel well in a hotel room

Smokable flower in any form. Smoke is detectable, persistent, and prohibited in nearly every hotel room in the United States. You will likely incur a cleaning fee or worse.
Loud-smelling pre-rolls, even unsmoked. The smell migrates from carry-on luggage into the room.
Vape pens, in many hotels. Some hotels treat vapor like smoke and apply the same penalties. Confirm with the front desk before assuming.
Concentrates that require dabbing equipment. The hardware is bulky and the smoke is heavy.

A reasonable hotel-friendly purchase for a tournament visitor: one 100-milligram pack of 10mg gummies, two cannabis beverages, and a 1:1 microdose tincture. That covers two evenings without producing a single waft of smoke. Browse our online menu to see today's selection.

Match-Day Logistics: Hours, Traffic, Pickup Windows

Stadium events at MetLife historically draw 80,000 to 87,000 attendees. The international soccer tournament matches in summer 2026 will be at or near capacity for every fixture. Traffic patterns around the Meadowlands shift dramatically in the four hours before kickoff and the two hours after the final whistle.

Order ahead from your phone

The single biggest time-saver for visitors is placing a pickup order from our online menu before you leave your hotel or the stadium parking lot. Orders confirm within 5 to 10 minutes during business hours, products are bagged, your name is on the bag, and your in-store transaction takes only the time it takes to verify your ID and complete payment.

Match-day timing examples

Afternoon kickoff (typically 12:00 PM ET on weekend group-stage matches): plan a Library visit either before noon or after 4:00 PM. Mid-day during the match is fine — local traffic is lightest then.
Evening kickoff (typically 8:00 PM ET): pick up before 5:00 PM if you can. Post-match pickup after a 10:00 PM final whistle is possible only on Friday and Saturday nights when we close at 9:00 PM (so plan for a next-morning pickup or a different night).
Final on July 19, 2026: expect heavier-than-normal traffic across the entire region. Visitors with hotel cancellation flexibility often shift to a Sunday-morning pickup before the match rather than a post-match scramble.

When the Manhattan-return clock starts

If you are returning to a Manhattan hotel, plan to leave The Library by 7:30 PM or 8:00 PM at the latest if you want to clear the Lincoln Tunnel before the tunnel approach traffic from a post-match exodus arrives. Lincoln Tunnel inbound (NJ to NYC) typically holds 15-25 minutes during a normal Friday evening; on a major-event Friday it can stretch to 60-90 minutes. Holland Tunnel is sometimes faster but adds 10 minutes of surface streets in lower Manhattan.

Visiting From Manhattan: PATH, NJ Transit, and the Lincoln Tunnel

Many tournament visitors will stay in Manhattan and commute to MetLife by official shuttle bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal or by NJ Transit train through Secaucus Junction. Either path is compatible with a Library stop, although the routing differs. For a deeper PATH-specific tutorial, see our Manhattan PATH transit guide.

PATH from World Trade Center

PATH from World Trade Center to Newark Penn Station takes roughly 25 minutes. From Newark Penn Station, an Uber or Lyft to The Library is roughly 12-18 minutes depending on traffic. Total door-to-door from WTC: about 40-45 minutes. PATH from 33rd Street takes the Hoboken or Journal Square route, which makes for a longer transfer to West Orange — the World Trade Center line is the more direct choice for a Library visit. From the Hoboken side, our Hoboken dispensary guide lays out the trip step-by-step. From Harrison, see the Harrison dispensary near PATH page.

NJ Transit from Penn Station NY

NJ Transit runs from Penn Station NYC to Secaucus Junction, where the official MetLife shuttle picks up. For visitors choosing The Library over the shuttle direction, transfer at Newark Penn Station: take NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line to Newark, then rideshare to West Orange. Total time from Penn Station NYC to The Library: 50-60 minutes.

Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel timing

Driving from midtown Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel takes 35-50 minutes to The Library on a normal weekday and can stretch to 70+ minutes during peak match-day windows. Holland Tunnel from lower Manhattan is comparable. The route after exiting either tunnel is the same: Route 3 West to I-280 West to Prospect Avenue. Toll cost (E-ZPass) is approximately $16-$18 each way for the Hudson River crossings as of 2026. Visitors flying into Newark Liberty can also reference our dispensary near Newark Airport (EWR) guide.

About the Summer 2026 Soccer Tournament at MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium will host eight matches in the international soccer tournament during summer 2026, between June 13 and July 19. The schedule includes five group-stage matches, one Round of 32 fixture, one Round of 16 fixture, and the tournament Final.

The eight matches at MetLife (June 13 to July 19, 2026)

June 13, 2026 — Group Stage match
June 16, 2026 — Group Stage match
June 22, 2026 — Group Stage match
June 25, 2026 — Group Stage match
June 27, 2026 — Group Stage match
June 30, 2026 — Round of 32
July 5, 2026 — Round of 16
July 19, 2026 — Final

Match dates listed above are taken from publicly-available tournament schedules; visitors should confirm exact match pairings on the official tournament organizer's site before traveling.

Why MetLife matches put a spotlight on NJ cannabis access

The summer 2026 matches at MetLife will draw visitors from countries with widely varying cannabis legal frameworks. Some are coming from places where cannabis is fully legal. Some are coming from places where it is criminalized. New Jersey's adult-use legal market is one of the more visitor-friendly cannabis markets in the United States — foreign passports are accepted, English instructions are clear, and the dispensary licensing system protects buyers from the risks of unregulated supply. We expect the tournament window to be a normal busy season for us, not a unique disruption, because we already serve out-of-state visitors year-round.

Cannabis and the Law: DUI, Hotels, Airports, State Lines

This is the section of the page where we are most direct about what is not allowed. Visitors who skim past this section are the visitors most likely to have a bad weekend. Read it.

NJ DUI applies to cannabis impairment

Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal in New Jersey and is enforced under the same DUI framework that covers alcohol. A first offense carries fines, mandatory court appearances, an interlock device requirement, and possible jail time. New Jersey law enforcement uses Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) to evaluate suspected cannabis impairment at traffic stops. There is no per-se THC blood limit in NJ; the standard is observable impairment. Read our NJ cannabis driving rules guide before you travel.

Plan your transportation before you consume. Use rideshare. Use NJ Transit. Use the official MetLife shuttle. Use a designated driver. Do not drive impaired.

Hotel rooms and the NJ Smoke-Free Air Act

The New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act prohibits smoking and vaping in indoor public places. Hotel common areas are covered. Hotel rooms are generally subject to individual hotel policy — most U.S. hotels prohibit any smoking or vaping in rooms and charge a cleaning fee that ranges from $200 to $500 if the policy is violated. Edibles are usually permitted because they leave no smell or residue. When in doubt, ask the front desk politely and comply with the answer.

Newark Airport is federal property

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) sits on federally regulated land. TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration enforce federal cannabis prohibition at the airport regardless of New Jersey state law. Cannabis cannot be checked, carried on, or transported through the airport, even to another state where cannabis is legal. If you have leftover cannabis at the end of your trip, leave it with a 21+ friend in NJ, dispose of it before you arrive at the airport, or do not buy more than you will consume during your stay.

Crossing state lines is federally illegal

Even if you are flying from one legal state to another, transporting cannabis across state lines is a federal crime. We cannot recommend or assist with any plan that involves taking cannabis out of New Jersey. Plan to consume what you purchase within the state, in compliance with state law.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is The Library Dispensary from MetLife Stadium?

The Library of New Jersey is at 1-3 Washington Street in West Orange, NJ — about 14.2 miles and a 30 to 45 minute drive from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, depending on traffic and time of day. The fastest route is the New Jersey Turnpike South to I-280 West, exiting at Prospect Avenue. On match days at MetLife, plan extra time for stadium-area congestion before kickoff and after the final whistle.

Are NJ dispensaries cash only?

NJ dispensaries accept cash and PIN-based debit cards. Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) cannot be processed for cannabis purchases anywhere in the United States, because cannabis remains federally illegal. The Library has an on-site ATM for visitors who arrive without enough cash. International visitors should confirm with their home bank that their debit card supports U.S. PIN-debit transactions before relying on it at the counter.

Can I go to a dispensary without a card in NJ?

Yes. New Jersey dispensaries do not require a medical card or any kind of state-issued cannabis card to make a recreational purchase. You only need to be 21 or older and to show a valid government-issued photo ID. The medical-card system in NJ is a separate program for medical cannabis patients; it is not required for adult-use purchases.

Can non-residents buy recreational weed in NJ?

Yes. Any adult age 21 and older with a valid government photo identification can buy recreational cannabis at any licensed New Jersey dispensary, regardless of their state or country of residence. Out-of-state U.S. driver's licenses are accepted. Foreign passports are accepted. You do not need a New Jersey ID and you do not need to live in New Jersey.

Can I drive to and from MetLife Stadium after consuming cannabis?

No. New Jersey DUI law applies to cannabis impairment exactly as it does to alcohol, and a first offense can carry fines, license consequences, and potential jail time. Plan ahead with rideshare (Uber, Lyft), the official MetLife shuttle from Secaucus Junction or Port Authority Bus Terminal, NJ Transit, or a designated driver. We recommend consuming after returning to your accommodation, never before driving.

Can I bring cannabis back to New York or my home state?

No. Cannabis remains federally illegal, and crossing state lines with cannabis is a federal crime — even between two states where cannabis is legal. We cannot legally recommend transporting cannabis out of New Jersey. Plan to consume what you purchase within New Jersey, in compliance with state law. If you have leftover cannabis at the end of your trip, leave it with a 21+ friend in NJ rather than risk an airport encounter.

What products are best for first-time or visiting customers?

For visitors new to legal cannabis or who want a discreet hotel-friendly option, our budtenders most often recommend low-dose edibles (2.5mg-5mg THC gummies), single-serving cannabis beverages, and 1:1 CBD-to-THC ratio products that produce milder effects. These travel well, leave no smoke or smell, and finish their effect within a few hours so you can sleep before an early flight or another match. Our staff will walk you through the menu, slow the pace, and confirm dosing in milligrams.

Plan Your Visit

Ready to come see us? Browse the menu, place your order, and we will have your selection bagged when you arrive. The Library of New Jersey is open seven days a week. Our budtenders are honest, patient, and trained to work with first-time legal-market visitors and international travelers. We look forward to meeting you.

Browse our online menu Get Directions

Address: 1-3 Washington Street, West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone: 862-786-0886

Hours: Mon-Wed 9 AM-8 PM | Thu-Sat 9 AM-9 PM | Sun 10 AM-5 PM

License: NJ-CRC RE000228 (recreational adult-use)

Adults 21 and older only — valid government photo ID required

Trademark and Independence Notice

The Library of New Jersey is not affiliated with FIFA, MetLife Stadium, or any official sponsor of the 2026 international soccer tournament. We are an independent licensed New Jersey cannabis dispensary located in West Orange, operating under New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission license RE000228. Cannabis is for adults 21 and older. Public consumption is illegal in New Jersey. Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal under the same statutes that cover alcohol. Cannabis cannot legally cross state lines or board commercial flights from Newark Liberty International Airport.