New Jersey Cannabis Market

The cannabis consultants at Point Seven Group are experts in the New Jersey cannabis market. We have successfully helped our clients obtain cannabis licenses, design dispensaries, build identifiable cannabis brands, and operate compliant cannabis businesses. Our team of cannabis experts can help you reach your business goals in the New Jersey cannabis market!


NEW JERSEY'S CANNABIS MARKET STATUS

The state of New Jersey is currently accepting recreational cannabis business license applications for cultivators, manufacturers, testing laboratories, and retailers. As of May 2022, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) has received over 900 applications and approved over 102 conditional licenses. The CRC continues to process and review additional recreational cannabis business applications on a rolling basis.

The CRC is not accepting applications for New Jersey medical marijuana Alternative Treatment Centers (ATC) at this time, however, currently operating ATCs are able to participate in the recreational cannabis market without submitting a full application. More information about the different license types and ways to start your application and apply can be found here.

ADULT-USE CANNABIS IN NEW JERSEY

Adult-use cannabis was approved by New Jersey voters on November 3, 2020 and recreational sales began on April 21, 2022. New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act allows for the legal sale and use of cannabis and cannabis products for individuals 21 years and older. The state allows six license types for cannabis businesses: cultivation; processing; wholesale; distribution; retail; and delivery. There are also micro-licenses available for each license type to provide opportunities for smaller NJ cannabis companies. The CREAMM Act also established the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), a five-person commission tasked with creating a full regulatory and application process. 


The CRC established and released New Jersey’s cannabis laws and regulations for the recreational cannabis market in August 2021 and began accepting license applications for cultivators, manufacturers, and testing laboratories in December 2021. Retail business applications became open for submission on March 15, 2022. Currently there is no limit on the number of New Jersey cannabis business licenses available statewide. 


There are two different classifications of New Jersey cannabis business license types, Conditional or Annual, and within each category there are different prioritization criteria to increase opportunities in the cannabis industry for people from designated target communities, people with cannabis convictions, and minorities, women, and disabled veterans. Priority is given to applicants who meet Social Equity qualifications, Diversely Owned businesses, and Impact Zone businesses. 

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN NEW JERSEY

In the state of New Jersey, medical marijuana has been available for legal sale since January 18, 2010 when Governor Corzine signed the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act into law. This Act legalized the use of medical cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions and helps registered patients safely access medicine from regulated and monitored facilities. As of May 2022, there are 12 licensed ATCs owned by vertically integrated companies with a collective 100,000 patients. The first New Jersey medical marijuana dispensary opened in the City of Montclair in December 2012.


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OUR SERVICES IN THE NEW JERSEY CANNABIS MARKET

ADULT-USE CANNABIS MARKET PROJECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY

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in annual cannabis sales expected by 2026!

According to Marijuana Business Daily, New Jersey cannabis consumers spent $1.9 million worth of cannabis and related products on April 21, 2022, the first day of adult-use marijuana sales in the state. The 2022 MJBiz Factbook projects that the New Jersey market will generate $625 million-$775 million in sales during 2022, growing to $2 billion-$2.4 billion a year by 2026.

NEW JERSEY CANNABIS LAWS


New Jersey Cannabis Market Laws

The Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act provides the framework for the recreational use of cannabis in New Jersey and the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act (Jake’s Law) does the same for medicinal use. Local municipalities determine their own regulations and zoning ordinances for operations of cannabis businesses within their jurisdiction. The CRC will not issue a license that would be in violation of a local ordinance or regulation. 

Under Jake’s Law patients are allowed to purchase and possess medical cannabis from licensed ATCs, but are not allowed to grow at home. Jake’s Law expanded the list of qualifying conditions to include chronic pain and additional anti-discrimination protections to ensure patients are not subject to conflicts related to education, rental housing, professional licensing, or employment. 

On December 16, 2019, expungement efforts were increased when Governor Murphy signed the “clean slate” bill into law. Under this law, individuals may be able to expunge their entire criminal history of all arrests and convictions after 10 years, including low-level marijuana convictions. The bill also restored voting rights to those on probation or parole. 

The CREAMM Act established the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to outline laws and regulations for the recreational cannabis market. The CRC established six license types, a maximum total of 8.625% tax (6.625% state and 2% local), and prohibited home cultivation of any amount of cannabis plants. On February 22, 2021 Governor Murphy signed three bills into law (A.21, S.2535, and A.5342) which collectively launched an adult-use cannabis industry and stopped thousands of arrests. Passing of these bills put an end to a three-year campaign to regulate and tax cannabis in the Garden State.

NEW JERSEY HEMP LAWS

New Jersey is among the first three states to have a Hemp Program approved by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2019. With the New Jersey Hemp Program approved, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is currently accepting hemp business Grower and Processor/Handler licensing applications for review and approval.

New Jersey Hemp Laws