The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) announced the 1st legal cannabis consumption area endorsement winners and a new Vice Chair.
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Cannabis Consumption Area Endorsement Winners
“This is a long time coming,” CRC Chair Dianna Houenou acknowledged. “I know a lot of people were very eager for cannabis consumption areas to open up in New Jersey. Our applications opened up earlier this year.”
She noted they had prioritized applications earlier this year, and now all stores can submit applications.
“We at the Commission are excited and look forward to these safe spaces opening up and operating responsibly to give ppl um options for safe and responsible cannabis consumption,” Houenou declared.
“All 4 are diversely owned businesses,” CRC Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs said.
He noted that diversely owned businesses were prioritized after social equity applicants.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for these 4,” Riggs added.
Notably, consumption areas, NJ testing labs, are not official license classes. But they sort of work that way.
“This is an endorsement. It must be associated with a brick-and-mortar Class 5 establishment. Municipal approvals are required. Site inspection is required by our Office of Compliance and Investigation. And there are fees associated with, um, paying for having this…,” Riggs explained.
He noted the CRC went through their site plans and any outstanding issues. They also submitted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that were reviewed:
- Gynsyng LLC
- High Rollers Dispensary
- SunnyTien LLC
- URB’N Dispensary
They were approved 3-0.
Krista Nash Elected Vice Chair
With the sad departure of our prior Vice Chair Sam Delgado, we have to nominate a new Vice Chair,” Houenou explained. “I nominate Krista Nash as Vice Chair.”
“It would be my honor to serve as the Vice Chair of this Commission, which has been instrumental in building a thriving cannabis industry. And most importantly, it has created numerous jobs and economic opportunities,” Commissioner Krista Nash declared.
“Congratulations Krista,” Commissioner Amelia Mapp said.
The three of them approved it 3-0.
Impartial New Commissioner Wanted
Recently, the NJ Senate Judiciary Committee approved Springfield Councilman Harris Laufer to serve on the CRC to replace Maria Del Cid-Kosso.
Laufer was approved on the last day of the legislative session before summer recess. On the same day, a bill was approved to allow elected officials to serve on the CRC.
Thus, it was surprising he was not there.
He is the former aide of NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22-Union).
Delgado’s replacement has yet to be announced.
Conversion License Winners
Riggs explained the types and elaborate process of investigating and processing applications through multiple offices, including cures, where problems have to be addressed. They also do background checks on persons of interest.
- Genuine Grow LLC Manufacturer Microbusiness
- Quality Cannabliss LLC Retailer Microbusiness
- OTG Weed LLC Delivery Standard
They approved 3-0.
Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners
Riggs noted that the annual license applicants went through the same process all at once, versus the two-part conditional license.
- Elevate 9 LLC Cultivator Standard
- Lenola Wellness Cultivator Standard
- Megaleaf LLC Manufacturer Microbusiness
- Elevate 9 LLC Manufacturer Standard
- Scarlet Express New Jersey LLC Distributor Standard
- Backpack Boyz JC LLC Retailer Standard
- Backpack Boyz West New York LLC Retailer Standard
- Beyond Hello Little Ferry, LLC Retailer Standard
- Crucial Wellness, LLC Retailer Standard
- Good Karma Dispensary Retailer Standard
- Honesty Wellness LLC Retailer Standard
- Sweetspot River Edge Retailer Standard
- Zaza Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
They were approved 3-0.
MSO Bloc OKed to Make Adult-use Cannabis Products
The Multi-State Operator (MSO) Bloc, formerly known as Justice Grown, was approved to expand its manufacturing operations to include adult-use cannabis. It is based in Ewing in Central Jersey.
He said they must pay a $300,000 fee to expand.
The NJCRC approved it 3-0.
NJ Cannabis License Renewals
Riggs said 28 annual NJ cannabis licenses were up for renewal for their yearly review. All their paperwork was approved:
- OGeez Brands NJ (1)
- Unity Rd Cannabis Shop (1)
- Lily Extracts (1)
- Bango New Jersey Inc. (1)
- Bud It Up (1)
- Aunt Mary’s Dispensary (1)
- Brute’s Roots (1)
- Columbia Care (1)
- Design 710 (1)
- TerrAscend NJ (1)
- HudHaus LLC (1)
- Kind Kush (1)
- Kushi Labs LLC (1)
- Canna Remedies LLC (1)
- Got Your Six of New Jersey (1)
- LoveGrow Company (1)
- Cottonmouth Dispensary (1)
- Ruuted LLC (1)
- JC Element LLC (1)
- City Leaf Corporation (1)
- URB’N Dispensary (1)
- Verano NJ (1)
- Conservatory Cannabis Company LLC (1)
- Pure Natural Vibes LLC (1)
- Sun Extractions Inc. (1)
- Noire Dispensary (1)
- A21 Health & Wellness LLC (1)
- Cookies Harrison LLC (1)
The NJCRC approved them 3-0.
Caution Suggested
“We understand business owners want to get up and running as quickly as possible, ….” Houenou said.
“We frequently see businesses accepting and seeing investors’ money before getting approvals for their um financial or investor agreements,” she explained. “We also frequently see businesses building out their facilities before getting approved for a license.”
“You are not required to finish your construction or renovation before submitting an application,” Houenou said.
“You run the risk of your application not being approved if there are problematic… provisions in your agreements or your business structure or uh other anywhere else in your application,” she added.
“We understand that everybody is eager to get up and running. The commission is sympathetic to that sense of urgency,” Houenou noted.
