NJ sees 172 apps for cannabis dispensary licenses in first 7 hours

Seven hours into accepting license applications for cannabis dispensaries, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission reported that 172 applications had been completed and submitted by 4 p.m.

The portal for other types of businesses, including cultivators, manufacturers and testing labs opened, on Dec. 15. Hundreds of accounts were also created that day by cannabis business hopefuls setting themselves up for when it would be their turn to press “send” on their applications.

“Since the portal opened in December, potential cannabis entrepreneurs have been establishing accounts and beginning the application process, so we did not see the flurry of new accounts being set up today as we did on Dec. 15,” said CRC Executive Director Jeff Brown. “What we saw were applicants who were already familiar with the system and ready to apply.”

Applications are now open for cultivation and manufacturing businesses, testing laboratories and dispensaries. They’re being accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open.

Per the CRC’s rules, social equity businesses, diversely owned businesses, microbusinesses, and conditional license applicants will be prioritized in their review and scoring. These include businesses owned by individuals with past cannabis convictions, those from designated economically disadvantaged areas, and minority-owned, woman-owned, and disabled-veteran owned businesses.