The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) elected Harris Laufer as the new Chair and Jackie Ferraro as Vice Chair.
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The March 2026 NJ-CRC meeting was the last meeting of former Chair Dianna Houenou and the first of Ferraro.
New NJ-CRC Chair and Vice Chair Elected
At the beginning of the meeting, Vice Chair Krista Nash noted that a new Chair and Vice Chair are needed.
She said the law says Chair and Vice Chair picks are made by the NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22-Union)and the Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19-Middlesex). Coughlin recommended Jackie Ferraro, a leading cannabis advocate and consultant.
“I would like to nominate Commissioner Ferraro,” Nash said.
“We owe you a great deal of gratitude for your work. Um, you have served with dedication, commitment, and integrity and just pure grace,” Ferraro said.
The NJ-CRC approved it 4 to 0.
“Congratulations Vice Chair,” Nash said.
“Really appreciate that,” Ferraro said.
Nash said a new Chair was needed.
“I would like to nominate Commissioner Laufer,” Commissioner Amelia Mapp said.
She cited his experience working for Scutari on the NJ cannabis law CREAMMA.
“I would like to thank Commissioner Mapp for nominating me,” Laufer said. “I hope to serve the Commission well. We are going to grow the industry and do great things together.”
The NJ-CRC elected him Chair 4 to 0.
“Congratulations Chair,” Nash said.
“Thank you,” Laufer said.
“I am honored to step into this role at such a pivotal moment,” Ferraro said.
She wanted to work to ensure a cannabis market that is sustainable, responsible, and accessible.
“One that works for businesses and uh consumers across the board,” Ferraro argued.
“I look forward to working with you for many meetings to come,” Laufer said.“…I want this industry to grow and continue to flourish
“I want to thank the Senate President and Governor Murphy for this appointment. I’m looking forward to getting this going,” he added.
New NJ-CRC Chair Background
Laufer is the Mayor of Springfield in Union County and the former Policy Director for Scutari during the NJ cannabis law CREAMMA push.
While championing a legal cannabis market, Scutari seems to hate home cannabis gardening in the Garden State.
In addition, many NJ grassroots advocates have felt Scutari was only interested in supporting large Multi-State Operators (MSOs) versus local diversely owned business.
SEEF Hearing Recommendations
Mapp explained their Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) town hall outreach.
She said many want money to go to education to help kids and financial literacy. Others want it to go toward health improvements in communities hurt by the War on Drugs
“Under the law the Governor and the Legislature… have the sole authority to allocate or distribute revenue,” Mapp noted.
She added that many want money to go to diverse and social equity* entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry.
“With a particular focus on providing grants to Social Equity businesses,” Mapp noted.
She said $3.67 million has been collected and not spent yet. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, $12.4 million is projected to be generated, and in FY 2027, $14.1 million.
They didn’t discuss raising the SEEF, which is a hot-button issue.
Conversion License Winners
Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs explained that two conditional license winners wanted to convert to the annual NJ cannabis license needed to open.
- RRB Extraction Manufacturer Standard
- HoneyGrow Elmwood Park Retailer Standard
The NJ-CRC approved them 4-0.
Conditional License Issues
There have been no new conditional license winners for some time now. Heady NJ has heard from many conditional license winners who ultimately found them worthless.
Some conditional winners believe that annual licenses were approved faster than they were which allowed them to open faster.
The NJ Cannabis Law CREAMMA specifically tried to empower conditional license winners.
But towns, landlords, and investors didn’t respect them as initially envisioned.
Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners
- Hashery Manufacturer Standard
- Indigo Belvidere Retailer Standard
- Marest NJ Retailer Standard
- Troy Hills Club LLC Retailer Standard
- The Vault Dispensary Millville Retailer Standard
The NJ-CRC approved them 4-0.
Expanded ATC License Winners
Riggs explained two medical cannabis companies wanted to get into adult-use cannabis dispensaries.
- NJ Nectar Ventures 1011 Whitehead Road Ext Ewing, NJ Class 1 Cannabis Cultivator
- NJ Leaf 369 Rt 35 South, Aberdeen, NJ 07721 Class 5 Cannabis Retailer
The NJ-CRC approved them 4-0.
Annual NJ Cannabis License Renewals
Riggs explained the annual license renewal process of paperwork.
“Please, please, please submit timely renewals… We’re looking for 100 percent compliance,” he said. “We don’t want folks getting notices of violations…”
- Moja Life (1)
- Green Knight Cannabis LLC (1)
- Citi Roots LLC (1)
- RushBudz Dispensary LLC (1)
- New Frontier Solutions LLC (1)
- Public Absecon (1)
- Union Chill Cannabis Company (1)
- Creative Flavors by Esther (2)
- Culture Craft Cannabis Collective LLC (1)
- Theo A. Cannabis LLC (1)
- OTC Jersey LLC (1)
- Enlighten Health & Wellness (1)
- One Green Leaf LLC (1)
- HillviewMed Inc (1)
- Brute’s Roots (1)
- High Grass Farms LLC (1)
- Sweet Leaf’s Dispensary LLC (1)
- Twisted Hat Cannabis (1)
- NJ Pure LLC (1)
- Fresh Elizabeth LLC (1)
- Benedict’s Supply LLC (1)
“You must get your applications in,” Nash said. “We’re running around trying to get these reviewed. You don’t want to get a fine….”
“There’s no wiggle room in other agencies,” she added.
Heady NJ has heard renewal fees are very expensive around $20,000 and likely prevent timely applications.
Honorable Plant Renewal
Ferraro was recused from the Honorable Plant dispensary renewal.
It was approved 3-0.
Ownership Changes Approved
- Franklin Roots Inc.
- HarvestWorks Farm Corp.
- Mountain Dispensary
- Mountain View Farmacy LLC
- NAR Cannabis
- Vigor Dispensary Tinton Falls LLC
