NJ Cannabis Commission Fines Two Businesses, Advances Over 70 Licenses at October 1 Meeting

The NJ-CRC extended a decision on the Social Equity Excise Fee while issuing enforcement penalties and approving dozens of licenses and business changes in the state’s expanding cannabis sector.

At its public meeting on October 1, 2025, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) approved a broad series of cannabis license applications, business modifications, and compliance actions, while postponing a decision on the future of the state’s Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF).

The Commission, which regulates New Jersey’s legal cannabis industry, took action on more than 70 licenses and permits during the session. These included:

• 4 conversions from conditional to annual licenses

• 7 new annual licenses (6 standard, 1 microbusiness)

• 62 annual license renewals, including one conditional renewal for Curaleaf NJ II

• 6 business ownership changes

• 4 business type conversions from microbusiness to standard

• 1 location change and 1 canopy expansion

Fines Issued for Compliance Violations:

The NJ-CRC also resolved two enforcement matters:

• Greater Purpose (INV-97-25) was fined $2,500 for using unapproved vehicles to transport cannabis, violating adult-use regulations.

• The Honorable Plant (INV-117-25) was fined $5,000 for failing to notify the Commission of an ownership change, a required disclosure under current cannabis rules.

Social Equity Fee Decision Delayed:

Commissioners voted to extend the decision deadline on the Social Equity Excise Fee, currently set at $2.50 per ounce of cannabis. The SEEF is earmarked to fund programs in communities disproportionately affected by historical cannabis enforcement. The delay means potential adjustments to the fee, which would apply to the 2026 calendar year, are still under review.

Petitions and Waivers:

The Board approved three determinations of rehabilitation for Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) employees whose background checks revealed past disqualifying convictions. The approvals restore their eligibility to work in the cannabis industry.

Four waiver requests were reviewed and denied:

• Blue Oak NJ LLC sought permission to sell hemp-derived THC and CBD beverages.

• The NAR Group Inc. requested to open a satellite medical cultivation location.

• Genuine Grow LLC asked to defer licensing fees until operations began.

• Hello High Dispensary LLC petitioned to increase product quantity per transaction.

Licensing and Market Expansion:

As of September 18, 2025, the Commission had received over 3,000 applications, with 2,388 approved and 276 under review. The adult-use market continues to grow, with more than 260 licensed dispensaries operating across 21 counties, and 55,513 registered medical cannabis patients as of mid-September.

The Commission also reported that 28 license extension requests were granted from August to September, bringing the 2025 total to 119 extensions. Most were attributed to municipal approval delays (86%), site control issues (53%), or funding challenges (27%).

Chair and Executive Director Updates

During opening remarks, the Commission’s chair highlighted the NJ-CRC’s recognition as a national leader among cannabis-regulating states and emphasized its adaptability and public transparency. An online waiver submission system was also formally introduced to streamline future petition processes.

Next Meeting

The next public meeting of the NJ-CRC is scheduled for December 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., and will be held virtually. Full recordings and materials from the October session are available on the Commission’s public meetings page.

The NJ-CRC is tasked with establishing and enforcing the regulatory framework governing the cultivation, testing, sale, and purchase of cannabis in New Jersey.