The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) pushed a potential Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) tax raise and reported numbers of a growing market.
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SEEF Tax Raise Pushed
Commissioner Amelia Mapp explained that there will be SEEF public town hall meetings in January. Information will be sent to the Governor and Legislature.
“Your input is valuable,” she said.
NJCRC Chair Dianna Houenou said under the legalization law, the Cannabis Regulatory and Marijuana Modernization Act (CREAMMA), they need to review the SEEF every year.
NJ-CRC Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs said the price of cannabis per pound has fallen, which means they should raise the SEEF.
He also noted they have the power to set it at $30 per ounce of wholesale cannabis sold once it falls below a certain level.
“It is recommended that the Commission take action to set the fee up to $30 at this time,” Riggs said.
“What is the average price…?” Houenou asked.
Riggs said it’s $251.06 per pound of cannabis in NJ.
Commissioner Krista Nash wanted to waive the requirement to raise it.
Heady NJ has seen that a lot of local NJ cannabis businesses don’t want to pay an increased SEEF fee on top of red tape costs amidst tumultuous sales. Some have said they will pass the cost onto consumers.
So, the NJ-CRC voted unanimously to not raise the fee.
NJ Cannabis Sales Data
Riggs noted that many more dispensaries have opened recently. He noted there are 394 legal cannabis businesses operating in Jersey.
“We’re still opening up these places, and we have a lot of licenses to go,” he declared.
However, Riggs did note patient enrollment is at 51,776 with 3,388 caregivers.
But he explained adult-use cannabis sales have been increasing steadily overall.
“Sales continue to climb and the price uh continues to drop for cannabis,” Riggs explained.
He also noted cannabis sales by county:
“It’s a continued showing of our summer months and our holidays with drop-offs in February and September as in previous years,” Riggs said.
October and November 2025 were also good.
“Sales are still climbing despite the fact that the price of cannabis is falling,” he said.
The NJ cannabis flower price per gram has changed too. It was $10.98 in October 2024 and was $8.09 in October 2025.
“Even when the price is lower, our sales are higher,” Riggs said.
He explained that sales of cannabis products that are not flower are also going up.
Riggs noted medical cannabis sales are continuing to decline. He added that dispensaries in the adult-use market program often offer discounts to official medical cannabis patients.
Cannabis flower continues to dominate the market with 42 percent of sales Riggs noted.
Diversity Data Reporting
Director of Diversity and Inclusion Wesley McWhite III said they have been working hard on getting data and understanding the problems of entrepreneurs they want to succeed.
Surveyed respondents noted money, town red tape, and state red tape are big problems, along with animosity against intoxicating hemp sold by smoke shops.
He said that under their ownership, numbers are good for minority owned and women-owned businesses.
McWhite noted the different industry data information, including new Wholesalers and Distributors entering the market.
Conversion License Winners
Riggs explained that several companies were up for approval for conversion to the annual legal cannabis license needed to operate:
- Green Leevs Cultivator Microbusiness
- Jrsy Girl Growers LLC Cultivator Standard
- Jrsy Girl Growers LLC Manufacturer Standard
- SweetSpot Dispensary Mt Olive LLC Retailer Standard
- Passing Puff Delivery LLC Delivery Microbusiness
- California Honey Corp Delivery Standard
- Dube Dash Delivery Standard
The NJ-CRC approved them unanimously.
Annual NJ License Winners
They also approved the following annual cannabis license approvals:
- Emerald Farms LLC Cultivator Standard
- Puffin Store NJ, Inc Cultivator Standard
- Puffin Store NJ, Inc Manufacturer Standard
- Quantum Productions Manufacturer Standard
- Woolwich Wellness Company Manufacturer Standard
- World Star Labs Inc. Manufacturer Standard
- Victory Dispensary LLC Retailer Microbusiness
- Baked Rooster LLC Retailer Standard
- The Happy Farmer LLC Retailer Standard
- TGC New Jersey LLC Retailer Standard
- Ocean Tide Wholesale LLC Wholesaler Standard
Expanded ATC License Winners
The NJ-CRC approved 2 medical Alternative Treatment Center (ACT) cannabis companies to begin adult-use sales:
- Toke Lane Cannabis Dispensary -Trenton- Retailer
- Noble Valley Harvest Company -Ewing Cultivator
NJ Adult-use Cannabis License Renewals
Riggs noted many companies were up for their annual adult-use cannabis license renewals, hence the name.
- Fire and Oak (1)
- Nightjar Holdings LLC (1)
- Bliss Co. (1)
- Weedies (1)
- Glass Meadows Inc (1)
- Anja Life (1)
- Mass Grown (1)
- The Cannabis Clubhouse LLC (1)
- Highgrade Labs of New Jersey (1)
- Smithers CTS NJ (Green Scientific Labs) (1)
- Sriven Labs LLS (1)
- New Jersey tics LLC (1)
- Green Analytics East LLC (1)
- Trichome Analytical (1)
- Sunrise Clinical Lab LLC (1)
- MPX New Jersey LLC (1)
- Gynsyng LLC (1)
- Dank Poet Dispensary (1)
- Aurum Botanics (1)
- Cannabhang (1)
- Garden River Inc (1)
- Cuzzie’s (1)
- The Station, Hoboken LLC (1)
- Holistic Re-Leaf LLC (1)
- Little Leaf Labs LLC (1)
- The Leaf Joint LLC (1)
- PPP Dispensary (1)
- Neveah Verde LLC (1)
- Legacy to Lifted LLC (1)
- MB1 Industries LLC (1)
- Quality Roots – Evesham LLC (1)
- Hera Solutions LLC (1)
- Lemon 22 Dispensary LLC (1)
- Blue Oak NJ 1 LLC (1)
- Jersey Roots Dispensary (1)
- High Profile Lakehurst LLC (1)
- Monteverde NJ Inc (1)
- Canfections NJ Inc (1)
- Sussex Pharms LLC (1)
- Salt Air Botanicals LLC (1)
- Sparkology Dispensary LLC (1)
The NJ-CRC approved them unanimously.
Medical Cannabis License Renewals
Riggs explained that 39 medical cannabis companies with 84 licenses were up for review, which is the total number in the market.
The NJ-CRC approved them unanimously.
Curaleaf was reviewed separately. They have 2 cultivation licenses, 1 manufacturing license, and 3 dispensary licenses.
“Given that there is litigation surrounding some of the requirements to maintain the medical permit, it is recommended by staff that Curaleaf be granted an administrative extension…,” Riggs noted.
They are suing the NJ-CRC because they don’t like labor unions.
“…The CREAMM Act was built on people over profits. Labor Peace Agreements provide a fair environment for workers to exercise their right to organize without fear…,” Nash argued.
She said they have helped raise working conditions standards.
“Curaleaf’s challenge to this mandate is a direct challenge to erode these gains and return to a model that favors corporate interest over the well-being of New Jersey’s workforce…,” Nash declared. “…My vote is a very reluctant yes.”
“The commission does emphasize the adherence to the law,” Houenou said. I look forward to March 31, 2026….. My vote is yes.”
So, the NJ-CRC unanimously approved extending their renewals until March 31, 2026.
Ownership Changes
Riggs noted it takes time to review legal cannabis business license changes. So they approved a few at once:
- Blue Harvest LLC: Change in ownership structure
- Bud 2 Bloom LLC: Adding new owners
- Dank Poet Dispensary: Change in ownership structure
- Fresh Cut Cannabis: Adding new owners
- Highgrade Labs: Transfer of ownership
- The Honorable Plant: Adding new owners
