New Jersey adult-use marijuana sales might begin ‘within weeks,’ gov says

Did you miss the webinar “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling?” Head to MJBiz YouTube to watch it now!


Although New Jersey missed a Feb. 22 deadline set by regulators to kick-start adult-use marijuana sales in the state, the launch isn’t far off, Gov. Phil Murphy predicted this week.

“We are within weeks – I would hope in March – you would see implicit movement on the medical dispensaries, some of them being able to sell recreational,” Murphy said during a radio show, NJ.com reported.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), however, has yet to sign off on recreational sales for any of the state’s 23 operational medical marijuana dispensaries – in part because the agency is waiting for local authorities to signal their approval for adult-use businesses.

City officials must provide written confirmation that they’re in support of recreational sales within their borders before any licensed MMJ dispensary can begin selling adult-use products, NJ.com reported.

Those confirmations have been slow to be submitted.

“One of the biggest deficiencies we’re seeing is a lack of municipal approval,” Jeff Brown, the CRC’s executive director, said at a January meeting.

Are you a social equity cannabis license holder or applicant?

The MJBizCon team is now accepting 2023 Social Equity Scholarship Program applications.

The mission of this program is to provide social equity cannabis license holders or applicants access to the #1 global cannabis industry conference + tradeshow in Las Vegas.

Who can apply?

  • Students currently enrolled in a cannabis-related program at an accredited university or college.
  • Cannabis executives at licensed social equity cultivation, extraction/processing, retail, manufacturing/brand businesses (or awaiting application approval).

Don’t miss out on this potentially life-changing opportunity.

Apply to attend MJBizCon today – The application period will close on July 24!

State rules require the commission to vote publicly on any applications for adult-use retail licenses, but no such applications are on the agenda for the CRC’s meeting on Feb. 24, NJ.com reported.

The agency’s next meeting is set for March 24.