New Jersey’s Cannabis Industry: Now Accepting Applications (and Munchies) Permanently

Pack your bags, cannabis enthusiasts of New Jersey! The Garden State has just become the Garden of Eden for you. Officials have announced that the application window for adult-use cannabis retailers is now permanently open. That’s right, permanently. Like the convenience store down the street that never closes, except this one’s selling a different kind of ‘snack.’

This is the second time New Jersey has flung open the doors to applications for adult-use cannabis retail licenses, according to NJ.com. The process kicked off on Tuesday and the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), like diligent students grading term papers, will review and score applications as they roll in. By 4:20 (no, really, it was 4:00), the CRC reported they had received more than 170 applications. Talk about a high demand!

The first round of applications opened on December 15, 2021, and included producers, processors, labs, and 12 existing medical cannabis dispensaries. It was like the first day of school for cannabis entrepreneurs.

“Since the portal opened in December, potential cannabis entrepreneurs have been establishing accounts and beginning the application process,” said CRC Executive Director Jeff Brown, who, we imagine, has been buried under a mountain of applications. He added, “What we saw were applicants who were already familiar with the system and ready to apply.” Sounds like these folks were as prepared as a Boy Scout at a camping convention.

However, the CRC has been a bit sluggish in issuing licenses, missing their self-imposed deadline on February 22 – exactly one year after Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis law. Out of the 12 medical cannabis licensees who submitted applications in December, the CRC is currently reviewing eight. Apparently, a few were missing some key information like municipal approvals. Perhaps they were too busy sampling their own product?

As they anticipate a tidal wave of new applications, the CRC plans to “beef up” their staffing. We’re not sure if this means they’ll be hiring more people or just doing a lot of push-ups. Either way, they’ve made it clear that social equity candidates, businesses with diverse ownership, micro-businesses, and conditional license candidates will be prioritized.

So, if you’re a cannabis enthusiast in New Jersey, it’s time to celebrate. Just remember to stock up on snacks!”