The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) approved 192 adult-use cannabis dispensaries and conditional license conversion extensions.
Executive Director Jeff Brown said of the new 192 Awardees, 91 are minority-owned, 10 veterans owned, and 97 are women-owned. Some of them held certifications in multiple categories. Many of them were for cannabis dispensaries.
He noted that the 192 new conditional licenses were the most they had ever approved at one meeting.
“They’ve been thoroughly reviewed,” Brown said.
NJ Cannabis Licenses Approved
The 192 are as follows:
1. Garden State Harvest LLC Cultivator Micro
2. Magic Crystal LLC Cultivator Micro
3. Magic Garden Botanicals LLC Cultivator Micro
4. Prince Garden LLC Cultivator Micro
5. Smart Buds 7 Cultivator Micro
6. The Happy Farmer Cultivator Micro
7. The Loud Factory LLC Cultivator Micro
8. Aeterna LLC Cultivator Standard
9. Arise Cannabis NJ, LLC Cultivator Standard
10. Cannachai, LLC Cultivator Standard
11. ENV Growers LLC Cultivator Standard
12. Essayons Greenery, LLC Cultivator Standard
13. Glass Meadows Inc. Cultivator Standard
14. Illtown Growers LLC Cultivator Standard
15. Jersey Island Wellness Cultivator Standard
16. Joia NJ LLC Cultivator Standard
17. Mollitiam NJ LLC Cultivator Standard
18. North Lake Supply LLC Cultivator Standard
19. Pot of Gold LLC Cultivator Standard
20. Sesshin NJ LLC Cultivator Standard
21. The Smiling Bud, LLC Cultivator Standard
22. Triple G Farms OZ LLC Cultivator Standard
23. Vetae Pharms NJ LLC Cultivator Standard
24. Vidu Brothers Cannabis Inc Cultivator Standard
25. EarthE CBD LLC Manufacturer Micro
26. Hearth Wellness LLC Manufacturer Micro
27. Magic Crystal LLC Manufacturer Micro
28. Smart Buds 7 Manufacturer Micro
29. Canfections NJ, Inc. Manufacturer Standard
30. Essayons Greenery, LLC Manufacturer Standard
31. Fernway Garden State LLC Manufacturer Standard
32. Garden Greens, LLC Manufacturer Standard
33. Garden State Born LLC Manufacturer Standard
34. Greater Purpose Manufacturer Standard
35. Grow Equity Ventures, LLC Manufacturer Standard
36. Herb-a-More LLC Manufacturer Standard
37. Illicit Extracts LLC Manufacturer Standard
38. Kushi Labs LLC Manufacturer Standard
39. Navigator Wellness Group, Inc. Manufacturer Standard
40. Piff Industries LLC Manufacturer Standard
41. The Smiling Bud, LLC Manufacturer Standard
42. Vidu Brothers Cannabis Inc Manufacturer Standard
43. Wiseco NJ Manufacturer Standard
44. A21 Health & Wellness Retailer Micro
45. Allstar Development Retailer Micro
46. Baked Goodz Retailer Micro
47. BKVLG, LLC Retailer Micro
48. Budflow, LLC Retailer Micro
49. Buku Culture Retailer Micro
50. Butler & Baldwin LLC Retailer Micro
Many Winners
51. Cannabis Oasis Retailer Micro
52. CannaBoy TreeHouse, LLC Retailer Micro
53. Central Dispensary, LLC Retailer Micro
54. Dazed & Confused LLC Retailer Micro
55. Elevate Organics LLC Retailer Micro
56. Garden Greenz Retailer Micro
57. Ginger Hale Retailer Micro
58. Grateful Med Dispensary, LLC Retailer Micro
59. Hall Weed Wonderland LLC Retailer Micro
60. Happy Bud LLC Retailer Micro
61. Hazy Harvest Retailer Micro
62. Jersey Shore Dispensary Retailer Micro
63. Level Up Cannabis, Inc Retailer Micro
64. Lucky Pot LLC Retailer Micro
65. Millenium Cannabis, LLC Retailer Micro
66. Mr. Happy Face, LLC Retailer Micro
67. Mrs Happy Face Retailer Micro
68. Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm Retailer Micro
69. Noire Dispensary Inc Retailer Micro
70. On the Other Side LLC Retailer Micro
71. Original Scarlet Reserve NJ Retailer Micro
72. Queen Green LLC Retailer Micro
73. Roll Models Retailer Micro
74. SATICA Retailer Micro
75. Scyfli Wellness Institute LLC Retailer Micro
76. Skylo Gardens Retailer Micro
77. Stoke Industries Retailer Micro
78. Sweetspot West Orange LLC Retailer Micro
79. The Cannabis Clubhouse LLC Retailer Micro
80. The Green Company LLC Retailer Micro
81. The Healing Side LLC Retailer Micro
82. The Lucky Leaf LLC Retailer Micro
83. Timber 5 LLC Retailer Micro
84. Tree Breeze Retailer Micro
85. Ace Cannabis Corp. Retailer Standard
86. Altius NJ LLC Retailer Standard
87. Atelier Green Incorporated Retailer Standard
88. Aunt Mary’s Inc. Retailer Standard
89. Barthelemy Farms Retailer Standard
90. Best Buds Union LLC Retailer Standard
91. Best Budz NJ LLC Retailer Standard
92. Blessedhaze LLC Retailer Standard
93. Boone Town Provisions LLC Retailer Standard
94. Bridge City Collective Highlands LLC Retailer Standard
95. Brotherly Bud Retailer Standard
96. Budz Prime, LLC Retailer Standard
97. Cannabis MD Retailer Standard
98. Cannis Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
99. Central Ave Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
100. Central Jersey Dispensary Retailer Standard
Variety of Cannabis Companies Approved
101. Chilltown Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
102. Cre8 Balance LLC Retailer Standard
103. Cure Wellness NJ LLC Retailer Standard
104. DAS Strategies LLC Retailer Standard
105. DASCO Solutions LLC Retailer Standard
106. DET, LLC Retailer Standard
107. El Verde LLC Retailer Standard
108. FFD NJ Holdings LLC Retailer Standard
109. Flower & Flame LLC Retailer Standard
110. Friendly Uncle Bob LLC Retailer Standard
111. Garden State Green, LLC Retailer Standard
112. Garden State Grow Labs LLC Retailer Standard
113. Garden State Marijuana LLC Retailer Standard
114. Genesis Technologies Retailer Standard
115. G Ma Bert Concepts LLC Retailer Standard
116. Gold Harmony LLC Retailer Standard
117. Green Bar NJ LLC Retailer Standard
118. Green Duck LLC Retailer Standard
119. Green Origin Solutions LLC Retailer Standard
120. Green Republic LLC Retailer Standard
121. Green Therapuetics LLC Retailer Standard
122. GreenStop Wellness LLC Retailer Standard
123. Gynsyng LLC Retailer Standard
124. Herbal Botanicals LLC Retailer Standard
125. High Rollers Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
More Approved
126. High Street Wellness LLC Retailer Standard
127. Higher Leaf LLC Retailer Standard
128. Highlights NJ LLC Retailer Standard
129. HofC NJ LLC Retailer Standard
130. Hype Society, Inc. Retailer Standard
131. Hyze Cannabis, LLC Retailer Standard
132. Indakure LLC Retailer Standard
133. Indica Leaf LLC Retailer Standard
134. Indoveda LLC Retailer Standard
135. J & J Flowers LLC Retailer Standard
136. Jersey Passion, LLC Retailer Standard
137. Joy Leaf NJ LLC Retailer Standard
138. Kush Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
139. La Herbalista LLC Retailer Standard
140. Lucys Shop LTD Retailer Standard
141. Mary’s Tree Market Retailer Standard
142. Maze NJ LLC Retailer Standard
143. McBUDZ, LLC Retailer Standard
144. Mellow Vibez LLC Retailer Standard
145. Mister Jones, LLC Retailer Standard
146. Molly Ann Farms LLC Retailer Standard
147. Natural Apothecary Retailer Standard
148. Natural Selections Dispensary Retailer Standard
149. Nelson and Rawles, LLC Retailer Standard
More Cannabis Companies Win
176. The Highed Out LLC Retailer Standard
177. The Honorable Plant LLC Retailer Standard
178. The Jersey Joint Inc. Retailer Standard
179. The May Queen NJ LLC Retailer Standard
180. The Skunk Father LLC Retailer Standard
181. This BUDZ 4 U, LLC Retailer Standard
182. Tranquility Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
183. Uma Flowers NJ LLC Retailer Standard
184. Unity Rd. of Montclair LLC Retailer Standard
185. Vigor Dispensary LLC Retailer Standard
186. Voltaire NJ Inc Retailer Standard
187. Wavecrest Botanicals, LLC Retailer Standard
188. Wavez LLC Retailer Standard
189. Wellness For Sale LLC Retailer Standard
190. Williamstown Dispensary Retailer Standard
191. Wizzy’s NJ LLC Retailer Standard
192. Woodbury Wellness LLC Retailer Standard
NJ Conditional Cannabis License Progress
Brown noted that 313 conditional licenses had previously been awarded. Out of 1300 applications, 939 cure letters were issued where there was an error on their application that required it to be resubmitted.
He explained the NJCRC has now awarded “over 500 conditional licenses.” That’s roughly 40 percent of the total applications we’ve received.”
There are now 505 adult-use cannabis licenses awarded. Many of them are for a cannabis dispensary.
Brown said 34 applications of 11 percent had submitted annual New Jersey adult-use cannabis license conversion applications while 89 percent had not.
“Over 50 percent of our conditional license applications have been approved,” he noted.
Of the 232 annual applications received by the NJCRC,188 have been reviewed. Many got cure letters.
“Our teaming is making tremendous progress,” Brown said. “We received an incredible outpouring of applications in the initial rush.”
He promised after the rush is over, “we’ll be a well-oiled machine going forward.”
Diversity and Inclusion Goals Progress
“The work continues,” Wesley McWhite of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion said about addressing access to Capital, Technical Support, and Workforce development working groups with other agencies to present solutions to license winners.
They are working with the New Jersey Business Action Center on the issues facing winners in the nascent New Jersey adult-use cannabis license.
“We are making a lot of progress on that front. “We are very optimistic we will provide access to support to those in the cannabis industry,” McWhite said. “Go team CRC.”
Brown noted the adaptation of the new patient registry “to improve access to the medical cannabis program launching the new system on Monday.
“Compliance is the biggest office at the CRC,” he said.
Many Prioritized
Brown noted his staff had worked hard to expand the market. He detailed thorough inspections and regular visits. Brown explained that the great delay in licenses is due to many applications qualifying for Social Equity and diversely owned businesses with high prioritization.
“That’s why it’s taken so long,” he said.
“We have 1300 applications submitted. All applications have been submitted to the review process. Our goal is to get through everything application by the end of fall,” Brown said. “There’s only 88 out of that 1300 that have not been reviewed for completeness. We’re making tremendous progress.”
Progress Made
McWhite had quarterly metrics on adult-use cannabis applications. He noted that 1/3 had a criminal history while 2/3 were diversely owned.
He detailed their process to help applications with access to Capital and Technical Support that are forthcoming.
As of August, over 50 percent of those awarded are Social Equity businesses. Thirty-four percent were majority-owned from Impact Zones or Economically Disadvantaged Areas (EDAs) residents. Thirty-three percent of application winners are majority-owned by those with qualifying criminal histories. Micro businesses comprised 54 percent of the applicants.
The categories overlap.
“We are exceeding those benchmarks for diversely owned and women-owned businesses,” McWhite said about the benchmarks set forth in New Jersey’s cannabis referendum implementation law signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy.
“We will not do this alone going forward,” he added, noting they are working with other New Jersey state agencies to facilitate the licensing and business opening process for license winners.
Conditional License Extension
Brown explained they were going to give conditional cannabis license applicant winners 45 days more than the six months previously established for them to submit an annual conversion application.
“This is a serious issue for many companies caught in a place where they don’t have the money to get the real estate,” he said. “Hopefully… they get what they need to file an annual license application.”
“Please stay positive. This reflects your struggles,” Commissioner Charles Barker said to New Jersey adult-use cannabis conditional license winners.
“We hope that more cities and towns, especially the most impacted towns, opt-in,” he added. “We must work together…to help applicants reach this generational opportunity. Please reach out.”
Maria Del Cid-Kosso voted on behalf of Chair Diana Houenou, who was absent from the meeting. The resolutions both passed 5-0 to help struggling companies, many of them potential cannabis dispensaries.
Temporary Workplace Impairment Guidance Issued
Brown explained they issued Workplace Impairment Guidance on their website under Business Resources.
“This guidance is the first in moving to permanent workplace impairment guidance issued,” he said.
The guidance and “Reasonable Suspicion Observation Report Form” issued by the NJCRC are meant to support employers’ right to create and maintain safe work environments and to affirm employees’ right to due process. Among other things, the guidance iterates that employees cannot be acted against solely due to the presence of cannabis in their bodies. However, employers have the right to a drug test on reasonable suspicion of impairment.
This guidance clarifies what employers can do now while they wait for the regulations of Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). There will be a training of likely Human Resource professionals in the techniques Brown explained.
He also noted that with few exceptions, most employers could not take adverse action against cannabis being in an employee’s system.
A motion passed changing the name of Altus New Jersey to Aunt Mary’s Dispensary LLC passed.
There was also a change of ownership to the company iAnthus, which has a medical cannabis dispensary in Atlantic City.
“No disqualifying information was found,” Brown said.
Ascend Fort Lee Dispensary OKed for Adult-use Cannabis Sales
In other business, Ascend New Jersey was given the approval to sell adult-use at their cannabis dispensary.
Brown noted to convert to an adult-use cannabis dispensary, they must have sufficient supply, ensure patient access, social equity and safety, and municipal approval. Their new Fort Lee cannabis dispensary across the George Washington Bridge from New York City was approved specifically for adult-use sales.
“Expanded ATCs (Alternative Treatment Centers) as a whole, you are not upholding your commitments to patients, Social Equity, and collective bargaining. There must be more proof of compliance to these core values, especially given the revenue so far,” Barker said.
He said the limited market generated $100 million in sales since April.
“I challenge my fellow Commissioners to hold New Jersey’s expanded ATCs more accountable,” Barker said.
He “wanted them to help our back and brown communities and families.”
Barker voted nay in a 3-2 vote approving the adult-use cannabis dispensary along with Houenou by way of proxy by Del Cid-Kosso, who was in favor of it.
Delegated Authority of the NJCRC Commissioners
Brown then explained a motion for more authority to be delegated to staff to speed up the process of working with partners on their goals.
The audit committee requested they delegate authority to speed the process so they can spend money on the issues of workforce training and access to capital.
Barker voted nay in a 4-1 vote. He also voted nay in a motion to delegate authority from the Commissioners to Brown to speed up the process in a 4-1 vote.
Unfortunately, the NJCRC meeting was concurrent with the 2022 NECANN NJ Conference in Atlantic City today and tomorrow at the AC Convention Center, along with another one at a casino across town.
PS Come to our NJ Cannabis Policy Discussion on 9/25 with 2022 License Winners in South Hackensack!
