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As the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) celebrates its fourth anniversary and enters its fifth year, we want to recognize the progress the agency has made in transforming New Jersey's cannabis landscape. Since our establishment, our goal has been to create a cannabis industry that is well regulated and safe for patients and consumers, as well as equitable and inclusive for business operators and workers.

We are excited to continue supporting patients by educating and recruiting new healthcare providers, hosting town halls to hear their concerns, and using that feedback as we rewrite medicinal cannabis rules to serve them better. The agency will continue to promote the growth of cannabis businesses throughout the state by prioritizing licenses for Social Equity Businesses, Diversely-Owned Businesses, microbusinesses, and those businesses located in Impact Zones. The NJ-CRC will continue to partner with organizations like the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) and New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) that provide training, continuing education courses, and grants to New Jersey cannabis entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Under the leadership of Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey has emerged as a national leader in promoting diversity, inclusion, and meaningful access to economic opportunities while fostering collaboration with the public.

The NJ-CRC remains steadfast in its commitment to equity, safety, and transparency while continuing to champion sensible and fair oversight of the cannabis industry.

As we look forward to the Commission’s fifth year, we are eager to see existing cannabis businesses bring innovative ideas on products, consumption areas, and services to the market, and even more entrepreneurs come to realize their dreams and establish their presence within the industry.

Industry Updates:

• Applications for cannabis consumption area endorsements are open for Social Equity Businesses (SEB), Diversely-Owned Businesses (DOB), and all microbusiness retailers. Other retailers can apply starting July 2.
• Be aware of scams targeting cannabis businesses, where scammers pose as managers or business owners and request cash deposits into unauthorized accounts via cryptocurrency ATMs or unfamiliar drop-off locations. Businesses should train staff on proper money handling to prevent losses.
• Applicants who submit complete cannabis business applications with the necessary documents will not be denied a license. Incomplete applications will receive a Cure Letter to correct errors. It’s important to provide a valid email and phone number and check spam folders for NJ-CRC communications. For help with application issues, applicants are advised to contact the Office of Licensing at CRC.Licensing@crc.nj.gov, or their assigned investigator. Deficient applications will be dismissed.
• The NJ-CRC is committed to creating a fair cannabis industry by collaborating with municipalities to simplify the process for entrepreneurs who want to start cannabis businesses. The Commission offers resources and guidance to help local governments effectively support these initiatives while maintaining community standards.

In the spirit of collaboration and continued growth, we are pleased to share updates from the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) on the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

Cannabis Training Academy

The Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) is a no-cost technical assistance, training, and mentorship program that supports New Jersey’s cannabis entrepreneurs.

• Offers 60+ free, online courses from 28 instructors focusing on cannabis business application and licensing.
• Top three most represented groups based on self-identification are            Black (48%), White (22%), and Latino (19%).
• Women lead the charge, making up more than 51% of the student population.
• Black women make up the most percentage of student body (25%).
• Top counties represented by students are Essex (18%), Middlesex (8%), Camden (8%), Hudson (8%), and Bergen (8%).
• Hosted 10+ expert webinars to educate on the cannabis industry.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Cannabis Equity Grants

The Cannabis Equity Grant Program is a $20 million pilot program open to New Jersey recreational cannabis license holders to support their startup and operational costs during the first three years of operation. The program has two types of grants, the Joint Ventures Grant and the Seed Equity Grant.

The Joint Ventures Grant awarded $250,000 grants to cannabis businesses that had site control and municipal approval.

Total Cannabis Equity Grant Funds Disbursed - $13.6M

• 46 grants awarded
• Total grant funding awarded: $11.5 million
• Total grant funding distributed: $8.8 million
• Of the 46 grant awardees, 29 (63%) of grantees are open and operating.
  • 22 Dispensaries
  • 3 Manufacturers
  • 3 Cultivators
  • 1 Testing Lab

Market Update

From April 2024 through March 2025, the Medicinal Cannabis Program (MCP) registered 24,350 new patients. The most common qualifying medical condition for all registrants, both new and existing, is anxiety, which accounts for 39% of the total medical condition profile. During this same timeframe, the program has issued 33,047 physical cards and 4,434 digital cards, which became available in June 2024. Digital cards are free, while physical cards cost $10.

Currently, there are 228 dispensaries, up from 121 this time last year. Since April 2024, 17 new cultivators and 13 manufacturers have become operational.

Flower remains the top-selling product at over 41% of the market, followed by vape cartridges at 29% and edibles at 14%. The remaining 17% includes various products such as pre-rolls, concentrates, capsules, and topical items.

As of January 2025, average cost of flower at licensed dispensaries is down to $9.92 per gram for recreational consumers and $9.29 per gram for patients. 

The Commission adopted new testing guidelines to improve product safety and simplify regulatory compliance. Key changes include smaller batch sizes for testing, increased specificity for various cannabis product categories, and more extensive cannabinoid testing.

The Find a Dispensary Map on the Commission's website has been improved, making it easier to find licensed dispensaries and delivery service providers.

The NJ-CRC Board voted to approve and/or deny the items below. If you want to obtain detailed specifics, you can access the meeting slides on the Public Meetings page.

Amendments to Agency Bylaws

The Board approved:

• Changes to the following sections of the Commission's bylaws:

• Meetings of the Commission

• Section 4.04 Quorum: A total of three (3) Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for all meetings of the Commission

• Committees of the Commission

• A standing committee shall not be subject to dissolution unless the Commission has adopted a resolution amending Section 5.02 to reflect the dissolution of the standing committee.

• The Audit Committee 

• The Underage Deterrence and Prevention Fund Committee

Cannabis Business Considerations

The Board approved:

• 9 Ownership transfer applications
• 4 Conditional-to-annual conversions
• 7 Annual licenses
• 2 Expanded ATC certifications
• 14 Annual license renewals

Determination of Rehabilitation

The Board approved:

• 1 ATC employee

Rule Waiver Requests

The Board denied:

• Waiver Requests WR012 and WR013 were submitted by Tree House Co-Op Dispensary and Green Wellness Haven, respectively, to waive the retail storage requirements of cannabis merchandise behind the sales counter.

Notice of Enforcement Action

• (INV-207-24) Garden Society - Failure to adhere to regulations regarding employee badging.

• The Board voted to issue an $8,000 penalty