Happy Black History Month!

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Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize the lasting impact Black communities have had on New Jersey and across the country. At NJ-CRC, it is also a time to acknowledge the role equity plays in building a fair and inclusive cannabis industry.

Today, of the 397 licensed cannabis businesses approved to operate in New Jersey, 55 are Black or African American owned. This progress reflects the importance of creating pathways for participation and ensuring the regulated market includes people and communities historically excluded from it. Through continued outreach, education, and equitable licensing practices, the Commission remains committed to supporting an industry that reflects the diversity and strength of our state.

Happy Black History Month!

Let's focus on some industry reminders...

Common pitfalls for applications:

We have made progress in reducing application processing times; however, some businesses still face delays due to incomplete submissions. The top reasons include:

• Incomplete or missing disclosure forms
• Unnotarized disclosure forms
• Missing or outdated tax returns

For investor and franchise agreements, provide all relevant documents, including attachments and exhibits. Many businesses do not submit a complete package, leading to longer review times.

To speed up the licensing process, ensure all application materials are complete and submitted correctly.

Compliance training

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential for maintaining compliance; they are not just mere words on paper. If you treat them as such, you significantly increase the risk of violations, errors in recordkeeping and internal accounting, and spending countless hours fixing these issues later.
• Review Subchapter 9 along with the subchapter relevant to your licensing activity.
• Ensure your staff understands their responsibilities in the event of an emergency.
• Consider conducting mock exercises, such as scenarios or tabletop drills.
• If you have any questions, please reach out to your compliance officer.

Hemp updates:

• A new law enacted last month restricts the sale of intoxicating products derived from hemp.
• Starting April 13, only Class 5 Cannabis Retailers will be permitted to sell products containing more than 0.4 mg of total THC.
• Liquor stores will be allowed to sell hemp-infused drinks, but they must comply with new requirements beginning November 13, 2026.
• The law also immediately prohibits the following:
  • Selling hemp-derived products or drinks online
  • Selling hemp-infused drinks in vending machines
  • Producing or distributing synthetic cannabinoids
  • Selling or giving any THC products to individuals under 21 years old (with the exception of medicinal cannabis patients)

Find more in our frequently asked questions (FAQs).

In 2025, the Commission continued expanding access to regulated cannabis for patients and consumers across the state, with more than 396 licensed businesses operating in 211 municipalities. New Jersey’s cannabis market continued to mature, generating nearly $860 million in sales during the first three quarters of the year. During the same period, approximately $49.5 million in tax revenue and just over $8 million in SEEF funds were collected.

Equity remained central to the Commission’s work in 2025. From licensing and education to data transparency and community engagement, the NJ-CRC took deliberate steps to ensure that the benefits of legalization continue to reach diverse entrepreneurs and communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition, while holding licensees accountable to the standards set forth under the CREAMM Act.

Public meeting updates

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

Public notices and publications

• The Board voted to readopt N.J.A.C. 17:30A (the medicinal cannabis rules), as there is a sunset provision that expires on April 27, 2026.

Cannabis business considerations

• Approved applications for permit or license changes
• 19 ownership changes

Cannabis business applications

• Approved cannabis business applications
• 1 medical satellite location
• 5 conditional-to-annual conversions
• 6 annual licenses
• 1 expanded ATC certification
• 1 ATC permit administrative extension
• 49 annual license renewals
• 1 AU administrative extension

Annual license suspension

• The Board voted to order a summary suspension of license for Mollitiam NJ's manufacturing and cultivation license, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:30-20.8(a) because of immediate threat to public safety for the business to continue operations.
• There is an ongoing investigation into Molitiam NJ for alleged illicit grow operation
• No public health or safety concerns with already produced downstream manufactured products.

Cases and petitions

• The Board denied 4 waiver requests
• The Board voted to approve two litigation matters, consistent with the discussion it had in prior executive sessions:
• (INV-126-24) Green Analytics New Jersey
• (INV-207-24) Garden Society
• Notices of enforcement actions
• (INV-71-2025) OHM Theory LLC
• Failure to adhere to the Adult Use regulations by selling expired products and failing to conduct monthly inventory of its products
• The Board voted to impose a $3,500 fine and required owner and employee METRC training
• (INV-102-2025) New Jersey Cannalytics
• Failure to adhere to the statute and the Adult Use regulations by transporting cannabis from its licensed location to its unlicensed location in Westminster, Maryland, for cannabis testing, and failing to report changes in its testing methodology for sampling and lab procedures
• The Board voted to impose a $25,000 fine and a 14-day license suspension being suspended for 6 months on the condition that owners and employees complete three required METRC trainings within 6 months
• (INV-124-2025) High Rollers Dispensary LLC
• Correcting December meeting Board action on enforcement action
• The Board voted to rescind Resolution 2025-12-17-22 due to an administrative error and impose a penalty of $3,500
• (INV-142-2025) CREAM Dispensary
• Failure to adhere to the Adult Use regulations by failing to track its inventory of cannabis products in METRC
• The Board voted to impose a $2,000 fine and required owner and employee METRC training
• (INV-143-2025) MMD NJ Inc
• Failure to adhere to the Adult Use regulations by not utilizing METRC to track its inventory of cannabis products and for failing to update its product inventory on a daily basis
• The Board voted to impose a $2,000 fine
• (INV-145-2025) Hashery LLC
• Failure to adhere to the Adult Use regulations by allowing cannabis paraphernalia to be clearly visible from the exterior of the dispensary
• The Board voted to impose a $500 fine
• (INV-148-2025) Toke Lane Dispensary
• Failure to adhere to the statute and the Adult Use regulations by effectuating an ownership change prior to Board approval
• The Board voted to impose a $10,000 fine
• (INV-149-2025) B Caf Dispensary
• Failure to adhere to the statute and the Adult Use regulations by utilizing unauthorized vehicles and personnel to complete deliveries
• The Board voted to impose a $3,500 fine
• (INV-150-2025) RushBudz Dispensary
• Failure to adhere to the statute and the Adult Use regulations by permitting an employee to commence work prior to the NJ-CRC issuing said employee a cannabis business ID card and prior to the card being in the employee’s physical possession
• The Board voted to impose a $1,000 fine