New Jersey Accepting Applications for Dispensaries Expansion
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]N[/dropcap]ew Jersey recently began accepting applications for six dispensary licenses that were created to double the state’s dispensary offerings.
Over 800 people attended the mandatory State Health Department meeting in Trenton, including both local and out-of-state consultants and entrepreneurs. One of the individuals who spoke at the meeting was Wanda James, one of the first African American women to own a cannabis business in Colorado. She noted that she has already assembled a team for the possible New Jersey branch of her cannabis company. “Experience, understanding the ups and downs, understanding how all of this works, I think is what’s going to be key in having a successful business in New Jersey,” James stated.
Applicant fees are $20,000 per application, with more than one application required when applying to different regions of the state. If unsuccessful, applicants will receive $18,000 of their money back. Existing alternative treatment centers will be allowed to apply at a later date. New Jersey does not allow wholesale cultivation, so dispensaries must grow their own product. The deadline for applications is Aug. 31. Reviews of application will begin immediately after, with chosen licensees by Nov. 1.
New Jersey’s cannabis program currently serves about 28,000 patients, up 12,000 patients from the end of last year. The rapid expansion is due to Gov. Phil Murphy’s mission to get more people approved for cannabis and strengthen the program, which ran stagnant for years under the previous administration. New conditions have been approved, fees were lowered and the public doctor registry was dropped.
Currently, bills are going through the state legislature that could legalize cannabis recreationally for adults and expand the medical cannabis industry in the state exponentially. Senate Bill 3195 would allow for 120 recreational and 98 medical cannabis dispensaries. Senate Bill 830 would help protect employees from being fired due to a positive drug test.
