At its most recent monthly public meeting, the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission hinted New Jersey’s legal weed consumer market may open soon than later.
Even as state regulators were careful to say there’s no firm date for opening, the commission’s executive director offered hope to the business community and consumers alike that its inching closer to an historic opening day.
“I’m very optimistic with the progress that’s being made to open New Jersey’s legal cannabis market. It remains the CRC’s top commitment to begin retail sales equitably, safely and expediently and we are closer to realizing our goal every day,” Jeff Brown, the CRC’s executive director said.
The CRC has 90 days to review an application to sell adult-consumer legal weed. The commission will start accepting applications for dispensary owners, the retail shops that will sell the cannabis products, on March 15.
“Ninety days is March 15,” Brown said of the applications for the alternative treatment centers, which are the businesses that already hold licenses to grow and sell medicinal cannabis, and which once-approved, will open doors to general consumers. “Hopefully, we will come close to that.”
Gov. Murphy also showed optimism this week when he said the market could open with in weeks.
Watching carefully are local cannabis operators big and small, preparing for doors to open. On March 16, NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting its first big business conference and networking event at the Carteret Performing Arts Center in Carteret. Tickets may be purchased here. Capacity is limited.
The day-long event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., includes multiple panels covering an array of topics designed to help businesses succeed in the space, including:
- Navigating licenses and regulations
- How to work work with municipalities
- Securing property and building the right facility
- Why security and insurance are essential
Among the speakers confirmed, so far:
- Tahir Johnson, director of Social Equity and Inclusion at U.S. Cannabis Council
- Nichelle Santos, founder and CEO of CannaCoverage
- Tony Gallo, managing partner at Sapphire Risk Advisory Group, who recently was named among the nation’s 100 most influence people in the cannabis by High Times.
- Ed DeVeaux, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Assn.
- Art Hance, CEO of Hance Construction
- Stacey Udell, director of business valuation and forensic accounting at HBK
- Cecilia Oyediran, a cannabis attorney at Foley Hoag
- Stu Zakim, president at Bridge Strategic Communications, which recently won a Clio Award for its work on Happy Munkey’s Original Immersive Van Gogh event last year.
- Todd Polyniak, head of the Cannabis Practice at accounting, tax and advisory firm SAX
- Marissa Mastroianna, an employment law attorney at Cole Schotz
- Dan Jensen, an account executive at Securitas Electronic Security
- Jay Keith, a compliance officer with 5S Security LLC
- Rob Mejia, adjunct professor at Stockton University’s Cannabis Studies
- Jennifer Maden, assistant dean and director of Graduate Studies, Rohrer College of Business, Rowan University
More speakers will be announced in the coming days.
Supporting sponsors so far include: Cova Software, 5S Security, Withum, SAX LLP, HBK, Cole Schotz and Stender.
Click here for more details and to purchase tickets.
NJ Cannabis Insider is a weekly subscriber-based online trade journal and events group produced by NJ Advance Media, which also publishes NJ.com, The Star-Ledger and other affiliated papers. For more information, contact us.
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