NEW JERSEY CANNABIS PROGRAM
NEW JERSEY
Licenses Available
STATE STATUS
Medical and adult-use marijuana is now legal in New Jersey – registered patients may possess, use, and purchase medical marijuana from state licensed businesses. On November 3, 2020, New Jersey voters voted to legalize adult-use/recreational marijuana.
State licensed businesses are allowed to cultivate, manufacture and dispense marijuana – learn more about how to get a New Jersey marijuana business license or schedule a complimentary consultation with our licensing team below.
For more information about New Jersey cannabis opportunities, see below!
Hemp
Yes
Medical Marijuana
Yes
Adult-Use
Yes
When to Apply
Now
News
JERSEY MARIJUANA CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSE OVERVIEW
New Jersey Medical Marijuana Business License: The program was first established in 2010 with vertically integrated Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) licenses, which allowed for the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of medical marijuana to qualified patients. The state awarded six (6) ATCs in 2011, and an additional six ATCs in 2018.
In May 2019, the state allowed for ATC licenses with specialty endorsements for cultivation, processing, or dispensing, as outlined below. Vertically integrated permits include 1 cultivation endorsement, 1 manufacturing endorsement and 1 dispensary endorsement. In total, the state issued up to 5 cultivation endorsements, up to 15 dispensary endorsements, and up to 4 vertically integrated permits.
Cultivation Endorsements: The permit endorsement allows an ATC license to possess, cultivate, and package marijuana; and distribute or sell marijuana to other ATCs, but not directly to registered patients. Tiered by canopy size to allow for small, medium, and large business participation.
- 20,001 Square Feet To 30,000 Square Feet: Up To 2 Cultivation Endorsements.
- 5,001 Square Feet To 20,000 Square Feet: Up To 2 Cultivation Endorsements.
- Up To 5,000 Square Feet: Up To 1 Cultivation Endorsement.
Manufacturing Endorsements: The permit endorsement allows an ATC license to possess and process marijuana; and purchase, manufacture, and conduct research on marijuana from other ATCs but not directly from registered patients.
Dispensary Endorsements: The permit endorsement allows an ATC license to purchase marijuana from other ATCs; and supply and sell marijuana to registered patients.
Vertically Integrated Permit: The permit is issued by the Department, which allows for a cultivation endorsement, a manufacturing endorsement, and a dispensary endorsement.
New Jersey Recreational Marijuana Business License: There will be a to-be-determined number of recreational marijuana business licenses available in New Jersey. While there is mention of marijuana businesses in the amendment, there aren’t any specifics, it calls for the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Committee (CRC), to establish and oversee the recreational program’s rules and regulations. Limitations (if any) and details for marijuana business licenses will likely unfold in the rule-making process.
Cannabis Cultivator: Any licensed person or entity that grows, cultivates, or produces cannabis in this State, and sells, and may transport, this cannabis to other cannabis cultivators, or usable cannabis to cannabis manufacturers, cannabis wholesalers, or cannabis retailers, but not to consumers. This person or entity shall hold a Class 1 Cannabis Cultivator license.
There will be no more than 37 Cultivation Licenses awarded for the initial 24 months.
Cannabis Delivery Service: Any licensed person or entity that provides courier services for consumer purchases of cannabis items and related supplies fulfilled by a cannabis retailer in order to make deliveries of the cannabis items and related supplies to that consumer, and which services include the ability of a consumer to purchase the cannabis items directly through the cannabis delivery service, which after presenting the purchase order to the cannabis retailer for fulfillment, is delivered to that consumer. This person or entity shall hold a Class 6 Cannabis Delivery license.
Cannabis Distributor: Any licensed person or entity that transports cannabis in bulk intrastate from one licensed cannabis cultivator to another licensed cannabis cultivator, or transports cannabis items in bulk intrastate from any one class of licensed cannabis establishment to another class of licensed cannabis establishment, and may engage in the temporary storage of cannabis or cannabis items as necessary to carry out transportation activities. This person or entity shall hold a Class 4 Cannabis Distributor license.
Cannabis Manufacturer: Any licensed person or entity that processes cannabis items in this State by purchasing or otherwise obtaining usable cannabis, manufacturing, preparing, and packaging cannabis items, and selling, and optionally transporting, these items to other cannabis manufacturers, cannabis wholesalers, or cannabis retailers, but not to consumers. This person or entity shall hold a Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer license.
Cannabis Processor: Any licensed person or entity that processes cannabis items in this State by purchasing or otherwise obtaining cannabis, manufacturing, preparing, and packaging cannabis items, and selling, and optionally transporting, these items to other cannabis processors, cannabis wholesalers, or cannabis retailers, but not to consumers. This person or entity shall hold a Class 2 Cannabis Processor license. A cannabis processor may also be referred to as a “cannabis product manufacturing facility.”
Cannabis Retailer: Any licensed person or entity that purchases or otherwise obtains usable cannabis from cannabis cultivators and cannabis items from cannabis manufacturers or cannabis wholesalers, and sells these to consumers from a retail store, and may use a cannabis delivery service or a certified cannabis handler for the off-premises delivery of cannabis items and related supplies to consumers. A cannabis retailer shall also accept consumer purchases to be fulfilled from its retail store that are presented by a cannabis delivery service which will be delivered by the cannabis delivery service to that consumer. This person or entity shall hold a Class 5 Cannabis Retailer license.
Cannabis Wholesaler: Any licensed person or entity that purchases or otherwise obtains, stores, sells or otherwise transfers, and may transport, cannabis items for the purpose of resale or other transfer to either to another cannabis wholesaler or to a cannabis retailer, but not to consumers. This person or entity shall hold a Class 3 Cannabis Wholesaler license.
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will determine the maximum number of licenses for each license class based on market demand.
HOW TO START A NEW JERSEY CANNABIS BUSINESS
To obtain a marijuana business license in New Jersey, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, some of the plans you will need to include the following:
- Security Plan.
- Environmental Impact Plan.
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan.
- Business History Plan.
- Financial Plan.
- Community Benefits Plan.
- Research Plan.
- Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan.
- Labor Compliance Plan.
- Staffing and Training Plan.
Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application team to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.
NEW JERSEY CANNABIS TIMELINE
2010 – New Jersey legalized medical cannabis.
2012 – First New Jersey ATC (Alternative Treatment Center) opened and medical cannabis sales began.
2018 – New Jersey awarded additional ATC licenses (Phase 2).
2019 – New Jersey awarded additional stand-alone business licenses (Phase 3).
Dec 2019 – State passed a resolution to put Question 1 on the Nov 2020 ballot.
Nov 3, 2020 – The state passed Question 1, to legalize recreational marijuana.
Jan 2021 – The New Jersey Assembly and Senate passed a bill that provided the regulatory framework for the Adult-Use Program. Gov. Phil Murphy is working on a few minor changes and a revised bill is expected to be signed soon.
Feb 2021 – New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, February 24, 2021 signed three bills into law: A21, A1897, S3454.
August 2021 – The Cannabis Regulatory Commission developed rules and regulations.
Dec 15, 2021 – The CRC will begin to accept applications for Cultivation, Manufacturing and Testing Facilities.
March 15, 2022 – The CRC will begin to accept applications for Retailers.
September 27, 2023 – The Cannabis Regulatory Commission will accept applications for certain licenses- wholesaler, distributor, and delivery service class licenses- only from social equity applicants.
December 27, 2023 – The CRC will accept applications for wholesaler, distributor, and delivery service class licenses from Diversely Owned Businesses, while still accepting applications for Social Equity Businesses
March 27, 2024 – The CRC will accept applications for wholesaler, distributor, and delivery service class licenses from all other applicants
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"Cannabis Business Advisors is a world-class company. Their tactical and strategic knowledge will guide any business to success. CB Advisors' advice and counsel played a key role in making Strive Life the only locally awarded dispensary in North Dakota."
Dispensary Owner, Strive Life Grand Forks"SARA’S SUCCESS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. OUR COMPANY CONTINUES TO ENGAGE SARA FOR ONGOING CONSULTING AND HER ADVICE REMAINS SOLID AND RELEVANT TO OUR GROWTH."
Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."WORKING WITH SARA WAS A PLEASURE. WE DON’T KNOW HOW WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS WITHOUT HER."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner"Sara reduced much of the management team’s stress by her knowledge, execution, resolving conflicts, and firm but confident approach."
Chairman, Solevo Wellness"Sara’s success speaks for itself. Our company continues to engage Sara for ongoing consulting and her advice remains solid and relevant to our growth."
Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner