Effective February 22, 2021, New Jersey legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes under the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act. Recreational marijuana is also commonly referred to as “adult use” cannabis to distinguish it from medical marijuana, which New Jersey legalized under the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act in 2019.
Currently, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) oversees licensing, taxing, and enforcing regulations for adult use cannabis. The CRC also administers the licensing and regulatory provisions of the Medical Cannabis Program.
Below you will find information regarding licensing procedures for retailers, cultivators, and manufacturers. We keep this page up-to-date when new information becomes available. Please note that this page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
Definition
Retailers—also known as dispensaries—sell recreational cannabis and cannabis products in a legal, regulated setting. In New Jersey, there are standard retailers and microbusiness retailers.
A microbusiness retailer is a relatively small operation with:
- No more than 10 employees at any given time.
- A physical plant of no more than 2,500 square feet.
- No more than 1,000 mature cannabis plants each month.
- No more than 1,000 pounds of usable cannabis (or the equivalent amount in other forms) each month.
Requirements
At the time of application, retailer applicants must include at least one owner who has resided in New Jersey for at least two consecutive years. Additionally, all owners and principals of the applicant must submit a Personal History Disclosure Form, their résumé, and proof that they are at least 21 years old. Further, each owner, principal, employee, and volunteer of an applicant must consent to a criminal history background check and comply with the Division of State Police’s fingerprinting procedures.
At the time of application for microbusinesses, 100% of the ownership interest must be held by New Jersey residents who have lived in the state for at least the past two consecutive years. At least 51% of the people included in the application—all owners, principals, and employees—must be residents of either the municipality where the microbusiness will be located or of a directly bordering municipality.
All applicants must also have a valid Business Registration Certificate on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
Process
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will first conduct a criminal background check of each of the applicant’s owners, principals, employees, and volunteers. Further, all owners and principals must submit a Personal History Disclosure Form, their résumé, and proof that they are at least 21 years old.
Next, applicants must complete and submit their Adult Use Retailer Licensing Application using the CRC’s online application portal. An applicant must submit a complete, separate application for each physical address where they seek to operate. There is a nonrefundable application fee, along with an annual license fee.
Within 90 days of receiving an application, the CRC will decide whether to accept or deny the application, or to extend the review period. The CRC may verify information in an application by contacting the applicant and its owners and principals, conducting an on-site visit, requiring a face-to-face meeting, and/or requiring additional materials.
If a submitted application is incomplete, the CRC may grant the applicant the opportunity to resubmit their updated application.
The CRC may investigate and conduct a probity review of the applicant, its owners, its principals, and any related entities and their finances, ownership, and control structure. If this happens, the applicant must cooperate with the CRC investigation process and provide any requested information.
If an application is denied, the CRC will provide the denial in writing, including the reason for denial along with the opportunity to request an administrative hearing within 45 days. In a hearing, the application and any supporting documents are reviewed; additional evidence is not considered. The ultimate denial of an application is final and subject to judicial review.
After the CRC approves an application, it will notify the applicant, who must respond within seven days. An applicant then has 365 days from the date of approval to build out their business premises and to request a final on-site assessment. The CRC will determine whether the premises, plans, protocols, and actions are consistent with the application and compliant with state laws. The CRC will issue a license within 90 days of a successful assessment. The license holder then has 14 days to propose an opening date to the CRC.
What kind of inventory tracking system do I need to operate a Retail Facility?
Most states require dispensaries to track and trace all of their cannabis-related products for regulatory and compliance reporting requirements. Our Retailer Point of Sale and inventory management system provides comprehensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking with a focus on compliant data points. If your state requires seed-to-sale systems to stay compliant, BioTrack has you covered. Our system is customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each and every state.
Definition
Cultivators, also commonly referred to as growers or producers, are responsible for growing cannabis. Once harvested, mature plants are transferred to processors. In New Jersey, there are standard cultivators and microbusiness cultivators. A microbusiness cultivator is a relatively small operation with:
- No more than 10 employees at any given time.
- A physical plant of no more than 2,500 square feet.
- A canopy height no more than 24 feet.
- No more than 1,000 mature cannabis plants each month.
- No more than 1,000 pounds of usable cannabis (or the equivalent amount in other forms) each month.
Requirements
At the time of application, cultivator applicants must include at least one owner who has resided in New Jersey for at least two consecutive years. Additionally, all owners and principals of the applicant must submit a Personal History Disclosure Form, their résumé, and proof that they are at least 21 years old. Further, each owner, principal, employee, and volunteer of an applicant must consent to a criminal history background check and comply with the Division of State Police’s fingerprinting procedures.
At the time of application for microbusinesses, 100% of the ownership interest must be held by New Jersey residents who have lived in the state for at least the past two consecutive years. At least 51% of the people included in the application—all owners, principals, and employees—must be residents of either the municipality where the microbusiness will be located or of a directly bordering municipality.
All applicants must also have a valid Business Registration Certificate on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
Process
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will first conduct a criminal background check of each of the applicant’s owners, principals, employees, and volunteers. Further, all owners and principals must submit a Personal History Disclosure Form, their résumé, and proof that they are at least 21 years old.
Next, applicants must complete and submit their Adult Use Cultivator Licensing Application using the CRC’s online application portal. An applicant must submit a complete, separate application for each physical address where they seek to operate. There is a nonrefundable application fee, along with an annual license fee.
Within 90 days of receiving an application, the CRC will decide whether to accept or deny the application, or to extend the review period. The CRC may verify information in an application by contacting the applicant and its owners and principals, conducting an on-site visit, requiring a face-to-face meeting, and/or requiring additional materials.
If a submitted application is incomplete, the CRC may grant the applicant the opportunity to resubmit their updated application.
The CRC may investigate and conduct a probity review of the applicant, its owners, its principals, and any related entities and their finances, ownership, and control structure. If this happens, the applicant must cooperate with the CRC investigation process and provide any requested information.
If an application is denied, the CRC will provide the denial in writing, including the reason for denial along with the opportunity to request an administrative hearing within 45 days. In a hearing, the application and any supporting documents are reviewed; additional evidence is not considered. The ultimate denial of an application is final and subject to judicial review.
After the CRC approves an application, it will notify the applicant, who must respond within seven days. An applicant then has 365 days from the date of approval to build out their business premises and to request a final on-site assessment. The CRC will determine whether the premises, plans, protocols, and actions are consistent with the application and compliant with state laws. The CRC will issue a license within 90 days of a successful assessment. The license holder then has 14 days to propose an opening date to the CRC.
What kind of software do I need to operate a Cultivation Facility?
Most states require dispensaries to track and trace all of their cannabis-related products for regulatory and compliance reporting requirements. Our cannabis cultivation and inventory management system provides comprehensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking with a focus on compliant data points. If your state requires seed-to-sale systems to stay compliant, BioTrack has you covered. Our system is customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each and every state.
Definition
Also known as processors, manufacturers take harvested cannabis from producers and create derivative extracts for edibles, concentrates, topicals, and prepacks. Once finished, their products are transported to dispensaries. In New Jersey, there are standard manufacturers and microbusiness manufacturers. A microbusiness manufacturer is a relatively small operation with:
- No more than 10 employees at any given time.
- A physical plant of no more than 2,500 square feet.
- No more than 1,000 mature cannabis plants each month.
- No more than 1,000 pounds of usable cannabis (or the equivalent amount in other forms) each month.
Requirements
At the time of application, manufacturer applicants must include at least one owner who has resided in New Jersey for at least two consecutive years. Additionally, all owners and principals of the applicant must submit a Personal History Disclosure Form, their résumé, and proof that they are at least 21 years old. Further, each owner, principal, employee, and volunteer of an applicant must consent to a criminal history background check and comply with the Division of State Police’s fingerprinting procedures.
At the time of application for microbusinesses, 100% of the ownership interest must be held by New Jersey residents who have lived in the state for at least the past two consecutive years. At least 51% of the people included in the application—all owners, principals, and employees—must be residents of either the municipality where the microbusiness will be located or of a directly bordering municipality.
All applicants must also have a valid Business Registration Certificate on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
Process
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will first conduct a criminal background check of each of the applicant’s owners, principals, employees, and volunteers. Further, all owners and principals must submit a Personal History Disclosure Form, their résumé, and proof that they are at least 21 years old.
Next, applicants must complete and submit their Adult Use Manufacturer Licensing Application using the CRC’s online application portal. An applicant must submit a complete, separate application for each physical address where they seek to operate. There is a nonrefundable application fee, along with an annual license fee.
Within 90 days of receiving an application, the CRC will decide whether to accept or deny the application, or to extend the review period. The CRC may verify information in an application by contacting the applicant and its owners and principals, conducting an on-site visit, requiring a face-to-face meeting, and/or requiring additional materials.
If a submitted application is incomplete, the CRC may grant the applicant the opportunity to resubmit their updated application.
The CRC may investigate and conduct a probity review of the applicant, its owners, its principals, and any related entities and their finances, ownership, and control structure. If this happens, the applicant must cooperate with the CRC investigation process and provide any requested information.
If an application is denied, the CRC will provide the denial in writing, including the reason for denial along with the opportunity to request an administrative hearing within 45 days. In a hearing, the application and any supporting documents are reviewed; additional evidence is not considered. The ultimate denial of an application is final and subject to judicial review.
After the CRC approves an application, it will notify the applicant, who must respond within seven days. An applicant then has 365 days from the date of approval to build out their business premises and to request a final on-site assessment. The CRC will determine whether the premises, plans, protocols, and actions are consistent with the application and compliant with state laws. The CRC will issue a license within 90 days of a successful assessment. The license holder then has 14 days to propose an opening date to the CRC.
What kind of software do I need to operate a Manufacturing Facility?
Most states require dispensaries to track and trace all of their cannabis-related products for regulatory and compliance reporting requirements. Our cannabis processing management system provides comprehensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking with a focus on compliant data points. If your state requires seed-to-sale systems to stay compliant, BioTrack has you covered. Our system is customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each and every state.
Overview
An Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) is a medical cannabis cultivator, manufacturer, and/or dispensary that has been issued a permit to cultivate, manufacture, dispense, or engage in other activities related to medical cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia.
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) is not accepting applications for ATCs right now.
Currently operating ATCs are not required to submit a full application to start participating in the recreational cannabis space. Businesses must instead notify the CRC of their intent and prove that they have adequate supply to meet the needs of medical cannabis patients. Businesses must also get approval from the municipalities where they are located.
What kind of software do I need to operate an ATC?
Most states require dispensaries to track and trace all of their cannabis-related products for regulatory and compliance reporting requirements. Our cannabis POS and inventory management system provides comprehensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking with a focus on compliant data points. If your state requires seed-to-sale systems to stay compliant, BioTrack has you covered. Our system is customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each and every state.
