The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) approved the Multi-State Operator (MSO) Curaleaf’s 12 licenses amidst a labor lawsuit in a special vote and denied their request to use more pesticides amidst their regular business.
Table of Contents
- Curaleaf Licenses Administrative Extension Approved by NJCRC
- Curaleaf Waiver Request to Use More Pesticide Denied
- Union Public Comment
- NJ Cannabis License Ownership Changes
- Hello High Dispensary Drive-Thru OKed
- Conversion to Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners
- Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners
- Microbusiness Business Conversion Winners
- Satellite NJ Dispensaries Approved
Curaleaf Licenses Administrative Extension Approved by NJCRC
“We have one licensee that holds a total of 12 licenses and permits in the AU and Medical Industry combined. Given the ongoing litigation with this entity regarding a licensing req, we are recommending that an administrative extension be granted until December 31, 2026 for all 12 licenses and permits,” Compliance and Investigations Office Director David Tuason explained.
“We are going to seek to extend these until 12/31 of 2026,” NJ-CRC Chair Harris Laufer said.
“I want to say a few words about a reprehensible display of corporate entitlement by Curaleaf, a company New Jersey licensed, enriched, and welcomed in good faith. But the Company has now decided that rather than comply with New Jersey’s laws and rules that govern our state-created multi-billion-dollar cannabis market, it will do whatever it takes to undermine them,” Commissioner Krista Nash said.
She noted the Labor Peace Agreement (LPA) lawsuit is ongoing.
“The Commission is on appeal it in the 3rd Circuit,” Nash said.
She explained their initial LPA with UFCW Local 360 labor union was a harmonious deal.
“The union then supported Curaleaf’s license applications before this Commission,” Nash noted.
“After Curaleaf had profited from our consumers and the labor of our workers, they decided the state law was no longer convenient and refused to renew their LPA,” she said.
“Curaleaf made the deliberate choice to not operate with an LPA for months,” Nash added.
She said they deserved their fines.
“In 2025, when it no longer suited Curaleaf, it decided to not only violate our law but strike it down. This is hypocritical and the most glaring kind!” Nash exclaimed. “If Curaleaf wants to operate in our state-created, state-regulated cannabis industry that remains federally illegal… it must comply with state law and state licensing reviews.”
“It does not get to use the federal courts to enable its federally illegal conduct…,” she argued.
Nash noted Curaleaf won a lawsuit in federal court after arguing the courts cannot enforce contracts they breached in Michigan due to the illegality of marijuana.
“Instead of complying with the verdict, Curaleaf appealed and argued that because of the federal illegality of cannabis, federal courts could not hold it accountable,” she said.
“So, Curaleaf is certainly talking out of both sides of its mouth…!” Nash declared.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” she declared.
“This is the kind of cynical and hypocritical conduct from corps and corporate lawyers that should make us all recoil in disgust!” Nash exclaimed.
She said they have labor issues in other states.
“Other copycats here in New Jersey are now trying to follow in Curaleaf’s steps by rushing to federal court…,” Nash lamented.
“We should not sit idly by …,” she added.
“If any company wants to harvest profits in this state, they must respect our laws and our requirements…” Nash declared.
“Thank you very much, Commissioner Nash. Really appreciate your thoughts,” Laufer said.
The NJCRC approved it 4-1 with Nash voting no.
Curaleaf Waiver Request to Use More Pesticide Denied
Chief Counsel Aruna Mohankumar explained that Curaleaf wanted a waiver to use a pesticide to grow cannabis “other than pesticides deemed to be a minimal risk by the USEPA and exempted from the federal Insecticide and Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.”
“I’m also going to recommend that we deny these waiver requests. We’ve denied previous requests as pertains to pesticides,” Laufer said.
The NJCRC voted it down 5-0.
They voted down other requests as they often do.
Union Public Comment
UFCW 360 labor union Organizing Director Hugh Giordano explained an LPA keeps the union from striking, handing out flyers outside their doors, and encouraging a boycott.
“It makes us neutral,” he noted.
Giordano noted workers want raises and vacation benefits, and the union is often needed to help with that.
“The same employers who yell and scream social equity, social justice. Yet they stamp on the workers,” he declared.
Giordano did not like that narrow definition of social equity.
“To me any employer who fights is … anti-justice,” he said.
Giordano formally criticized The Cannabis Place (TCP) dispensary of Jersey City after he noted he advocated at meetings for TCP to be allowed to be open. They are among the copycats following Curaleaf.
“When the workers formed and joined a union, they stalled to negotiate…,” Giordano explained. “They have money to hire attorneys, they have money to pay their employees. It’s disgusting!”
“We’re not gonna let companies do this…,” he added.
Giordano threatened to be outside their door, urging customers not to go in.
NJ Cannabis License Ownership Changes
Tuason explained there were several cannabis license ownership change approval requests. He said they were all vetted. They included:
- SoulFlora
- Flower & Flame
- Frosted Nug at Red Bank
- Hudhaus
- Med Leaf
- Silver Leaf
- Sinsemilla Labs
- Bay Street Greenery
- Boone Town Provisions
- Canna Remedies
- Earth and Ivy
- High Tide Industries
- Integrity One Alternative Care
- Nightjar Holdings
- The Sage NJ
“These names are top tier,” Laufer said after reading the list.
The NJCRC passed it 5-0
Cannaverde LLC was considered separately, with Commissioner Amelia Mapp recused due to an ongoing professional relationship.
Tuason said it has been vetted as well.
“We similarly recommend the board approve this application,” he added.
They passed it 4-0 with Mapp recused.
“New room throws off the flow…,” Laufer said as Mapp returned to the room.
Hello High Dispensary Drive-Thru OKed
Next, Tuason explained that Hello High dispensary of Hammonton wanted approval to create a drive-through.
“We recommend the board approve this requirement,” he said.
“There was a not too long ago time when we would never talk about a drive-thru canna dispensary. And this State is doing some really good things,” Laufer declared. “I want to give everybody snaps for that.”
“I love drive-thrus, so this is exciting,” Vice Chair Jackie Ferraro said.
They are not the first dispensary to have a drive-through in New Jersey.
Conversion to Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners
- Custom Cannabis Creations LLC Cultivator Standard
- Atlantic City Cannabis Retailer Microbusiness
“One of these operators took great advantage of the Cannabis Training Academy, the CTA…,” Ferraro said.
The NJCRC approved it 5-0
Annual NJ Cannabis License Winners
- Bassen Company LLC Manufacturer Standard
- Savage Garden LLC Manufacturer Standard
- Kind Kush Rockaway Township LLC Retailer Standard
Microbusiness Business Conversion Winners
Tuason explained that two microbusinesses wanted to convert to the larger standard NJ cannabis license to grow.
- Shnicks Shnacks (cultivator and manufacturer)
- Little Leaf Labs
The NJCRC approved it 5-0.
Satellite NJ Dispensaries Approved
Chief Counsel Aruna Mohankumar explained that two NJ dispensaries wanted another location. The 1st was Unity Rd. Cannabis Shop LLC in Newark.
She noted NJ adult-use dispensaries can now have 2 satellites if they can get local approval.
The NJCRC approved it 5-0
Next, they considered Zen Leaf Mount Holly in Hackettstown.
Mohankumar explained that Zen Leaf Mount Holly wanted to take over High Street Dispensary in Hackettstown in Northwest Jersey. Mount Holly is in South Jersey, while Zen Leaf is an MSO.
She noted that they are taking over a distressed business. They also want to keep it called High Street Dispensary.
The NJCRC approved it 5-0.
