New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Public Meeting Highlights
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission held its most recent Public Meeting on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Click this link to watch the meeting in its entirety.
During the Permitting and Licensing Committee Report, it was announced that the committee recommended a waiver of requirements about final onsite assessments.
Under NJAC 17:30-7.14(f) awardees must request a final onsite assessment within 365 days from the award date. This meant that businesses should request the CRC to come in and complete a final walkthrough of their cannabis business, and that these businesses should be ready to operate and open up after requesting the final assessment.
However, awardees are facing significant obstacles to becoming operational. A report from Wesley Mc White III, NJ CRC’s Directory of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, states that many of the obstacles that cannabis business licensees face are largely outside the jurisdiction of the NJ CRC. Instead, licensees are facing issues related to construction and build-out delays, municipal and zoning approval delays, and investors pulling away from projects. These issues hit social equity and diversity-owned businesses especially hard, as many of these businesses often rely on outside investing and consultants to aid in establishing their cannabis business.
At Thursday's meeting, the committee voted to waive these requirements, with the condition that cannabis businesses contact their CRC-assigned field monitor, someone who keeps track of how their business has progressed since being awarded.
The rule imposed regulation on businesses. We continue to ensure businesses stay in touch with their field monitors and demonstrate efforts to become operational. Removing this regulatory deadline would be a great help to these businesses.
As NJ CRC Chair Dianna Houenou pointed out, “Without this waiver, businesses would be at risk of losing their award at a point where they are so close to the finish line already.”
The decision comes in light of reports of cannabis business owners facing confusing, arbitrary, and potentially corrupt practices at the municipal level.
Ultimately, what this means for businesses is that while they no longer have to worry about the 365-day final assessment request requirement, they should still maintain good communication with the CRC and their assigned investigator in order to prevent any risk of losing their license.
Our team has helped prepare multiple cannabis business applications for state and municipal approval, including retail dispensary applications and local zoning board applications. Our relationships with legal consultants, architects, and policy experts inform our strategy in helping clients navigate an already confusing legal scheme that changes week to week. Contact The Aubrey Group if you can use some assistance navigating this highly regulated and complex industry.
Product Safety, Packaging and Labeling Committee Update
At Thursday’s meeting, the NJ CRC announced the publication of long-awaited Packaging and Labeling Guide for Adult Use Cannabis businesses.
The Packaging and Labeling Guide for AU Cannabis Businesses is now available on the commission’s website.
Commissioner Krista Nash stated that “all licensees are required to follow the packaging and labeling rules 17:30 16.2-16.6”, which are related to sanitation practices, cannabis product handling protocols, food safety training, and packaging guidelines.
The new guide sets out standards for how cannabis and cannabis products must be packaged and labeled for sale and distribution.
These regulations help to ensure that product quality is maintained, that serving sizes are within legal limits, and that products intended for adult use stay out of children’s hands.
These packaging and labeling requirements are a critical component of regulatory compliance for cannabis businesses across New Jersey, and mark a commitment to product quality and patient safety.
What this means for cannabis businesses is that they should take stock of current product safety practices, no matter their business type - from cultivation to delivery - and ensure they align the the CRC’s newly published guidance.
The Aubrey Group has successfully advised multiple cannabis businesses on their compliance with the regulations, and keeps abreast of all new regulatory changes and requirements that might affect the cannabis industry.
Have questions about your cannabis business’ compliance with the new Packaging and Labeling Guide? We’re here for you.