New Jersey Approves 13 Dispensaries to Boost State’s Recreational Cannabis Market

Regulators have just given seven companies the green light to start selling adult products within the next month

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) today approved the first 13 dispensaries to sell adult-use cannabis in the state. Sales of leisure items to adults 21 and over are expected to begin over the course of the next month.

Last month, the CRC feared legal supply might not meet consumer demand. They were also concerned about the ability of medical manufacturers already operating in the state — known as ATCs, “Alternative Treatment Centers” — to open their doors to recreational sales without disrupting access for medical patients. There have also been concerns that ATCs are in a hurry to cut social justice and occupational safety to welcome recreational customers.

Today, representatives from seven multi-state medical cannabis operators testified before the board of directors of their individual plans to protect medical access and social justice across the state. The board vote granted certifications to all seven companies, allowing them to expand their operations into the adult cannabis market at 13 of their 18 combined locations.

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Dianna Houenou, chair of the CRC, clarified that pharmacies “are not authorized to start immediately” and must wait for the board to issue their official licenses. Each approved facility must pass a site assessment by the CRC, pay royalties, and obtain their official license before they can begin recreational sales.

There is no set date for opening leisure sales. Each of the 13 pharmacies will open once they have met their licensing requirements.

Jeff Brown, the CRC’s executive director, pointed out that the process could take more or less than 30 days for any pharmacy, depending on how quickly they complete their assessments and pay the required fees. Once these requirements are met, the pharmacy can be opened to the public.

Only 13 pharmacies were approved by the CRC.

According to a CRC press release, “Acreage CCF New Jersey, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, GTI New Jersey, Ascend New Jersey and TerrAscend will be able to grow cannabis once they pass facility inspections and receive new licenses. Manufacture of cannabis products and retail sale to the general public at 13 dispensaries statewide.”

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Dispensaries operated by Curaleaf (Bellmawr, Bordentown, Edgewater Park), Columbia Care (Vineland) and Anchorage CCF (Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic City) are among the facilities hoping to operate in southern New Jersey.

Verano operated pharmacies will operate in central NJ and Ascend Wellness (Montclair), TerrAscend (Phillipsburg) and GTI New Jersey (Paterson) will operate in northern NJ.

“Expanding into the adult market – with a significantly advantageous start ahead of new entrants – is a privilege not to be taken lightly,” said Houenou. “We expect these ATCs to deliver on their promises to patients and communities; and that leisure customers are served appropriately.”

More licenses are on the way

“These permits were granted on the basis of commitments from the ATCs that we would not see any adverse effects from the expansion,” CRC Chair Dianna Houenou said after Monday’s vote on the ATC’s expansion. (Edwin J. Torres / NJ Governor’s Office)

In addition to approving the expansions for the seven medicinal producers, the CRC also approved 34 conditional license applications for New Jersey breeders and producers, scheduled to open later this year. This brings the number of conditional licenses approved to date to 102.

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New Jersey is the latest cannabis social justice battleground

As of March 30, 2022, the CRC had received 732 applications: 511 from Diversly-Owned Businesses (70%), 213 from Social Equity Businesses (29%) and 310 from Impact Zone Businesses (42%). to the CRC. Of the 732 applications received, 410 applications entered the priority examination process.

New Jersey is the latest social justice battleground in the cannabis industry. NJ lawmakers are competing with neighbors in New York to set a new bar on the use of legal cannabis to address the damage caused by the War on Drugs by prioritizing social justice claimants.

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