The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) fined several companies, including the large Multi-State Operator (MSO) Curaleaf $610,000 for violating labor regulations.

Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs explained that Curaleaf does not have a valid Labor Peace Agreement (LPA) with a labor union. Initially, they had one that lasted 3 years and needed to be renewed. But they let it expire.

“We advised Curaleaf on that expiration,” he noted.

Commissioner Krista Nash wanted to fine them $5,000 a day for 122 days from April to August for a total of $610,000.

NJCRC Chair Dianna Houenou explained that LPAs are required.

“We have documentation from Curaleaf admitting to the violation that… they do not have a valid Labor Peace Agreement in place,” she said.

The CRC approved it 3-0.

Curaleaf Waiver Request of Testing Rules Denied

Chief Counsel Dave Tuason explained that Curaleaf wanted a special waiver around product testing.

For example, Curaleaf wants to test cannabis not by batch or lot but instead have product family-based stability testing.

“I move to deny the waiver request at this time,” Nash said.

“There is no evidence presented in this waiver request demonstrating the necessity…,” Houenou explained.

“Not having a defined standard for family product-based testing could lead to inconsistent test results and contamination in products, thus posing a risk to harm and safety,” she added.

The CRC denied it 3-0.

Green Medicine Fined $20K for Improper Storage

The grower Green Medicine failed to use approved areas for trimming and storage according to Riggs.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time Green Medicine had a prior offense related to the failure to use approved areas…,” he explained.

It was confirmed through their state surveillance system.

“I will move to impose a fine of $20,000. This is not the first time they have committed these violations,” Houenou stated.

She said they asked permission and were denied and did it anyway. The fine was approved 3-0.

Dank Poet Dispensary $10,000 Party Violations

Riggs said Dank Poet Dispensary violated alcohol and cannabis consumption prohibitions on their property at their anniversary held in the parking lot in an igloo.

“There were a few videos and images obtained from social media by our compliance officer…,” he explained.

“That is still considered a cannabis business’s premises,” Riggs said.

They were also selling too much and not collecting enough taxes on products.

Nash said they should sanction them $7,500 for consumption violations, $2,000 for selling in excess of regulations, and $500 for the sales tax for a total $10,000.

“The business did in fact, um, contact the CRC and ask about activities that could be conducted during the event. They were told no. Yet here we are,” Houenou stated. “Heed the warnings of our compliance officers.”

The fine was imposed 3-0.

No Flashy Cannabis Transportation Trucks

Next Brute’s Roots was said to have used a vehicle with its name to transport cannabis, which is a problem.

Unfortunately, you can’t have flashy Hess Truck types moving weed.

Nash wanted to fine them $5,000.

“I support the motion,” Houenou said.

Houenou said they were warned multiple times and used it anyway so it went through 3-0.

Botera Union Faces Multiple Fines

Botera Union dispensary had multiple issues with work badges, sales, and checking IDs. Riggs said they let people work without badges.

Mapp wanted to fine them $1,000.

There was no second, and it failed.

Nash wanted to fine them $5,000, with $1,000 for a worker badge, $500 for no door ID checking, and $3,500 for selling more than 1 ounce to a customer.

Houenou agreed with her and they approved it 3-0.

Metrc Tag Problems

Lovegrow Company was having trouble with mandated Metrc tags on plants Riggs said. Not enough were being used.

“This was reported to us by an anonymous source,” Riggs said.

He said they admitted the error.

Nash said they should be fined $1,000 and it passed the CRC 3-0.

Not Checking IDs Enough Fined

Cream dispensary was then in trouble because no one was checking IDs at the door, even if they were at the register.

Nash wanted to fine them $500 and so they did 3-0.

Expiration Change Denied

Tuason said the NJ Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA) wants to waive a rule to extend the baseline expiration date from 6 to 12 months.

“I will move to deny the waiver request,” Houenou said.

Commissioner Amelia Mapp seconded it.

“I do agree with revisiting the expiration dates that are in our regulations…,” Houenou explained. “But the waiver process is not the proper vehicle to do that…,”

So, the CRC denied them too 3-0.

No Packaging Kids Would Look At

Tuason explained that Nova Farms Woodbury did not like their prohibition on images attractive to children, like candy and cartoon characters.

Nash said a picture of chocolate and the word “chocolate” was too attractive to children. So it was denied 3-0.

Nova Farms Woodbury also did not want to have all packaging in a single color to not attract kids. But Houenou argued that too many colors were a problem, and it was denied 3-0.

No Legal Infused Ice Cream Allowed

According to the CRC, Inclusion Gourmet did not like the requirement of edibles related to shelf-stable food items to make infused ice cream.

Nash said it could get contaminated too easily, and it was denied.

“I agree with staff’s determination,” Houenou said.

They were sticklers for the rules, and it was denied 3-0.

Infused ice cream is available on the underground legacy market if you know where to look.

Conversion to Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners

Riggs said 3 licenses were up for consideration to secure annual licenses to operate in the legal market. He explained the lengthy application process:

1 Dragonfly NJ Inc Cultivator Standard

2 Dragonfly NJ Inc Manufacturer Standard

3 Collective Beleaf LLC Retailer Microbusiness

The CRC approved them 3-0.

Annual License Winners

1 Exotica Gardens Cultivator Standard

2 Starlight Cannabis LLC Cultivator Standard

3 Woolwich Wellness Company LLC Cultivator Standard

4 Hamilton Farms LLC Manufacturer Standard

5 Lenola Wellness Manufacturer Standard

6 Backpack Boyz AC LLC Retailer Standard

7 Cre8 Balance LLC Retailer Standard

The CRC reviewed and approved them 3-0.

Annual License Renewals

Several annual license renewals were up. Annuals are needed legally to open but only last 12 months:

• Niche LLC (1)
• Buddy’s Dispensary (1)
• Village Hoboken LLC (1)
• The Frosted Nug at Red Bank (1)
• 4Twenty Somewhere (1)
• Elevated by TheCannaBossLady (1)
• MMD NJ, Inc. (1)
• Green Lightning Cultivation LLC (1)
• The THC Shop (1)
• Jester’s Joint LLC (1)
• Casa Verde Wellness (1)
• Blulight Cannabis ULC (1)
• ABCO Garden State LLC (1)
• Shorehouse Canna LLC (1)
• Daylite Cannabis LLC (1)
• The Smiling Bud LLC (1)
• Plantopia (1)
• Glass Meadows Inc. (1)
• Tree House Co-Op Dispensary LLC (1)
• Cannavibes (1)
• BestBuds LLC (1)
• Peaches Garden LLC (1)
• Molly Ann Farms LLC (1)
• Phula LLC (1)
• downtown FLWR (1)
• Indigo Dispensary LLC (1)
• Organic Farms Inc. (1)
• Feels of Green (1)
• Evergreen Nature’s Remedy LLC (1)

The CRC approved them 3-0.