The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) approved 46 adult-use cannabis sales licenses, including the first 11 adult-use-only dispensaries.
They also shortened the wait time for medical cannabis awardees to certify they can serve medical cannabis patients and adult-use cannabis sales.
“We have another slate of conditional license applications for recreational,” NJCRC Executive Director Jeff Brown said.
He explained 46 adult-use licenses were going to be approved. It included 11 adult-use cannabis dispensaries.
“We’ve now gotten to our first slate of Class 5 retailers, and it’s just over 60 days… since we began accepting applications,” Brown said.
He took great pride in that, given the onerous nature of several previous delays.
Cannabis License Winners
The New Jersey adult-use cannabis license winners were:
| Business Name | License Type | Business Category |
| Pura NJ LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Cannibana LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Highlands Cannabis Inc. | Cultivation | Standard |
| Terrapin Investment Fund Il Cultivation, LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Octagon Garden New Jersey LLC | Cultivation | Micro |
| JKLCO-GRG | Cultivation | Standard |
| Apothca Cultivation Incorporated | Cultivation | Standard |
| Guaranteed Investments NJ. LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Blue Sky NJ, LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Cana-Bosem, LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| GTE NJ LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Jersey Shore Ventures Group LLC | Cultivation | Micro |
| Tribe New Jersey LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Piff Industries | Cultivation | Standard |
| Garden St. Gas LLC | Cultivation | Micro |
| Royal Dynastic Organics LLC | Cultivation | Micro |
| Dank Deluxx | Cultivation | Standard |
| ABCO Garden State LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Victorious Gardens | Cultivation | Micro |
| Atlantic Cultivators LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Coastal Hemp and Cannabis Consultants LLC | Cultivation | Standard |
| Kusala Care | Cultivation | Micro |
| Max Extracts LLC | Manufacturing | Micro |
| Cana-Bosem, LLC | Manufacturing | Standard |
| JKLCO-GRG | Manufacturing | Standard |
| Star Garden New Jersey LLC | Manufacturing | Micro |
| One Faith Wellness, LLC | Manufacturing | Standard |
| Pura NJ LLC | Manufacturing | Standard |
| Ascension Cannabis Brands Co | Manufacturing | Standard |
| Lily Extracts | Manufacturing | Micro |
| Culture Craft Cannabis Collective LLC | Manufacturing | Micro |
| Yummy Lipz Edibles & Packaging | Manufacturing | Micro |
| NJTHC | Manufacturing | Micro |
| Cannabis Plus LLC | Manufacturing | Micro |
| Beleaf NJ | Manufacturing | Micro |
| Kind Kush | Retailer | Standard |
| Nutra Leaf, LLC | Retailer | Micro |
| The Jersey Joint Dispensary LLC | Retailer | Standard |
| Daylite Cannabis LLC | Retailer | Micro |
| Cloud Nine Dispensary | Retailer | Standard |
| Tru Wellness. LLC | Retailer | Micro |
| Simply Pure Downtown Trenton LLC | Retailer | Micro |
| Galaxy Express NJ LLC | Retailer | Micro |
| Simply Pure Trenton NJ Inc | Retailer | Standard |
| Med leaf LLC | Retailer | Standard |
| Herb Haus LLC | Retailer | Micro |
They were approved unanimously.
Four cannabis testing labs were also approved:
- Trichome Analytical
- New Jersey Cannalytics
- Green Analytics East
- Sriven Labs
They were approved 4-1, with NJCRC Commissioner Charles Barker retaking his contrarian position.
“Three of these labs have been operating in medical cannabis,” Brown said.
Further labs are forthcoming, he said.
“Shout out to NJCBA’s (NJ CannaBusiness Association) Testing Committee,” Brown said. “We have faith in all of them.”
Growing the NJ Cannabis Market
Brown noted that 11 adult-use dispensary licenses, 92 cultivation licenses, 45 manufacturing licenses, and four testing labs had been approved for a total of 152 New Jersey adult-use cannabis licenses.
He noted their tentative locations would likely change.
Between the initial medical cannabis awardees, the 2018 round, and the round awarded last year, there are 56 medical cannabis license holders giving New Jersey a total of 208 cannabis license holders, with some companies holding multiple license classes.
“We have received over 1,000 total applications,” Brown said. “Over half of them have received an initial determination and review.”
“Folks should review all the resources on our website before submitting an application,” he added, explaining that many have made errors that delay their applications.
Urging Cooperation
NJCRC chair Diana Houenou noted the opening of the New Jersey adult-use cannabis market “was an important milestone, but it does not market the end of our process. It simply marks a step in a multi-year plan.”
“The CRC has taken intentional steps to set up an inclusive industry,” Houenou said.
She urged banks, landlords, attorneys, and employees to ensure people have a fair opportunity to participate in the industry.
“Working together is the only way to have the industry reflect the diversity of our state,” Houenou said, noting several metrics to measure it.
Brown explained that since the adult-use cannabis market opened, there has been $24 million in sales from 212,000 adult-use cannabis transactions.
“It’s certainly a substantial number, but it’s only a beginning,” Brown said. “It has gone as smooth as we could hope.”
He said they are serious about patient access requirements.
“Overall, we’ve seen good compliance, but there have been some hiccups,” he said.
However, they were resolved quickly.
“There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity in this industry for new businesses to enter the market,” Brown said.
License application demographic data is forthcoming at the June, September, and December NJCRC meetings.
5 MSO 5 Locations Approved for Adult-use Cannabis Sales
“There are three certifications under consideration,” Brown said. He explained they need to ensure they can continue to serve patients, including supply, plans for patient access, address social equity, safety, and focus on patients and other issues.
Ascend had their Montclair location approved for adult-use sales. Garden State Dispensary (GSD)/Ayr Wellness had their Woodbridge, Union Twp, and Eatontown locations approved. TerrAscend had their future Lodi dispensary approved.
Mike Conway of Ascend Wellness explained patients would not have to wait. There will be a patient access number, patient-only hours, will host two town halls for patients, and other things to ensure patient access.
Ascend plans to host two expungement clinics with attorney Chirali Patel, develop relationships with organizations to hire the poor and felons, host more workshops, including how to start a cannabis business, and support Social Equity applicants with funding and mentorship.
Julie Winter of Garden State Dispensary/Ayr Wellness explained they went through extensive planning to ensure medical cannabis service continues. They will begin home delivery starting next week, institute curbside pick-up and dedicated lines, and a phone line they promise someone will pick up.
“We will continue to provide private onsite counseling for patients,” Winter said.
Chantelle Elsner of TerrAscend noted their other locations are open for adult-use cannabis sales and said they want to serve patients too.
“Opening our Lodi locations broadens that reach,” Elsner said.
TerrAscend’s Lodi location is not yet open.
Elsner said they would provide home delivery now too.
“The CRC expects weekly and monthly reports from every ATC operating in the adult-use market,” Barker said. “We look forward to your continued compliance.”
The NJCRC approved them unanimously.
“There’s going to be an operational assessment for regulatory compliance,” Brown said. “Then licenses will be issued.”
Medical Cannabis Awardee Time to Apply for Adult-use Sales Cut
Rather than wait one year, companies that won medical cannabis licenses last year can quickly comply with the necessary medical cannabis service requirements and qualify to sell both medical and adult-use cannabis. They no longer have to wait 12 months to apply.
“We want to make sure awardees were first and foremost committed to the medical marijuana market,” Brown said. “We’ve seen the market get started. We’ve now rethought some of those requirements.”
“Once you fully implement your businesses, you’re an Alternative Treatment Center for business, and prove you can serve patients, awardees would be eligible to apply for expansion,” he added. “It will incentivize those who can move quickly.”
The NJCRC approved it unanimously 5-0.
Brown explained some companies want to change their proposed location. He said it’s not uncommon for ATCs to change locations during the permitting process. Vertically integrated licenses have 18 months to launch, while dispensaries have 12 months to be launched.
The following companies wanted to change where they would be based:
- Altus New Jersey
- Bloom Medicinals of PA LLC
- Garden State Botanicals
- Holistic NJ LLC
- Oceanfront Holdings LLC
Specific locations were not specified.
“Staff has no concerns,” Brown said.
In addition, Columbia Care wants to grow more in Vineland in Cumberland County, and Garden State Dispensary (GSD), owned by the out-of-state Multi-State Operator (MSO) Ayr Wellness, wants to grow in Lakewood in Ocean County.
Brown said they are permitted to do so. The resolution passed unanimously.
Workplace Safety
Chief Counsel Christopher Riggs said they are developing with the police training commission to maintain drug-free workplaces. They have been working with the NJ Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) to establish such standards. Riggs explained no private businesses offer that type of training, and the State Police wouldn’t offer it to civilians. They are continuing to work on the issue with the NJ Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders.
