The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) gave the Multi-State Operator (MSO) Curaleaf another temporary approval of its adult-use cannabis licenses as its lawsuit continues.
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Curaleaf Gets Another Temporary Adult-use License Extension
Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs explained they are in an ongoing lawsuit with Curaleaf, which has 12 licenses in the NJ medical cannabis market. He recommended they extend their adult-use cannabis permission again till August 1st.
The NJ-CRC approved the extension 4-0.
Labor Issues Discussed CRC Public Comment Period
During the public comment section of the meeting, leading cannabis advocate and UFCW union leader Hugh Giordano discussed their issue with Curaleaf.
“Companies are threatening to buck LPAS (Labor Peace Agreements),” he noted.
Giordano said some companies are breaking the law and the “Peace” part of the agreement by forcing their workers to attend anti-union meetings.
“They’d rather spend thousands or millions to fight equity and justice….,” he argued.
Giordano said some business owners pledged to treat their workers well before they opened but went back on their word.
“We have negotiated with some really great employers,” he added.
The UFCW has argued that if they’re allowed to break the LPA contract, they would be able to break all the other contracts they have signed.
(Heady NJ is working with the UFCW to host the South Jersey Canna Blooming on Saturday, June 20th!)
Jersey Fighting Curaleaf
New Jersey is fighting Curaleaf’s lawsuit over cannabis labor laws with the help of a former Attorney General.
Because the UFCW has been at the forefront of the NJ legalization movement, the Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement and Marijuana Modernization Act (CREAMMA) mandates that companies sign LPAs to open.
But now Curaleaf is seeking to violate the contract in a way that would violate many contracts.
NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport recently wrote the presiding Judge Michael Shipp. She argued the validity of a contract with a labor union in the legal cannabis industry.
She also believes that because NJ has strong cannabis labor laws that should be protected by state law in an industry based a federally illegal plant.
So, Davenport wanted their lawsuit dismissed.
The case is in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey based in Trenton.
Curaleaf’s lawsuit was filed in October 2025. The State of New Jersey and Curaleaf have been fighting the suit since with a range of motions.
Attorney General Law Firm Connections and Curaleaf
Former NJ Attorney General Christopher Porrino, under Republican Governor Chris Christie, is representing Curaleaf in the case. He is a lawyer at the high-end, politically connected Lowenstein Sandler firm.
Former NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin, under former Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, used to work there too before he took that position, but after being Murphy’s Chief Counsel, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has since opened his own law firm
Curaleaf and NJ Cannabis Labor Laws
This is not the first time that Curaleaf has been in danger of losing its licenses. They did indeed lose it in April 2023 over labor issues. But it was quickly reinstated after what might have been a classic shady Jersey backroom deal.
Curaleaf Chair Boris Johnson has also been supportive of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
