The New Jersey Department of Health is seeking new applicants to operate up to 108 additional alternative treatment centers. Separate licenses will be available for the first time for cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary, as per recent DOH rule changes.
Northern New Jersey and central New Jersey will receive up to 38 licenses each, while southern New Jersey will receive up to 32. Up to 24 cultivation licenses, 30 manufacturing licenses, and 54 dispensary licenses will be granted.
The number of available licenses is based on the DOH’s assessment of patient needs and region population.
“We are at a point where patients just cannot wait any longer for easily accessible, affordable therapy. This request for applications allows for specialization of businesses to increase medical product in our state,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal in a statement.
“In addition, by allowing for three sizes of cultivation endorsements (5,000 square feet, 20,000 square feet and 30,000 square feet), we are increasing opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to participate in the program,” he said.
There are currently 47,500 medical cannabis patients in New Jersey.
A Request for Applications, released Monday, can be viewed here. Interested applicants can access ATC application forms here on July 1, then due on August 15.
Applicants are invited to submit questions on the RFA to the DOH through July 5, and a pre-application webinar with frequently asked questions will be held on July 16.
The six currently operating ATCs and six awardees from the July 2018 RFA process are eligible to participate in this RFA.
The timeline for review of applications and announcement of awards depends on the volume of applications received, the DOH said.
