Official Site of The State of New Jersey
New Jersey Administrative Code N.J.A.C. 17:30-7.16 requires each license holder to submit a renewal application to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission ("NJ-CRC") annually. The NJ-CRC must receive the renewal application with all required documentation and the required fees pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:30-7.17 no later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the current cannabis business license. If the license(s) issued permitting your entity to operate in the adult- use cannabis market is set to expire in the coming months you must attend to this matter promptly.
Completion of the Certification attached to this letter, along with any necessary documentation, and upload of the same to the NJ-CRC Licensing Portal at https://nj-crc-public.nls.egov.com/#!/signin will satisfy the licensee’s NJ-CRC regulatory requirement of submitting a renewal application. Payment should also be made through the NJ-CRC Licensing Portal with the submission. A separate Certification (and supporting documentation, as necessary) must be submitted for each license issued to the entity by uploading the Certification and documents to each corresponding license number.
If you have any questions pertaining to this correspondence, please contact your assigned Field Monitor and/or Investigator.
Note: Account information must be brought current in the licensing portal before attempting to renew.
Metrc (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance) is New Jersey's seed-to-sale tracking portal.
As required by the CREAMM Act, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has established universal symbols to be used on all products containing cannabis (THC) and their packaging. The symbol - along with tamper-proof, opaque, and resealable packaging - is intended to help prevent accidental ingestion and to deter children.
All cannabis products sold in the state of New Jersey must be marked, stamped, or otherwise imprinted prominently with the universal symbol – on each single serving of the product if practical, and all packaging.
Downloadable versions of the symbol for both packaging and product imprint are below. The “Standards” document has guidelines for how the symbols are to appear.
| File Name | |||||
| NJ Cannabis Package Universal Symbol | PNG | JPG | EPS | SVG | |
| NJ Cannabis Product Universal Symbol | PNG | JPG | EPS | N/A | |
| NJ Cannabis Universal Symbol Standards | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*Reprinted, with permission from ASTM D8441/D8441M-22, © ASTM, https://www.astm.org/d8441_d8441m-22.html.
All cannabis business operators in New Jersey are required to know, understand, and follow the packaging and labeling rules found in N.J.A.C. 17:30-16.2 through 17:30-16.6. These requirements relate to how cannabis and cannabis products are to be packaged and labeled for distribution. These requirements include:
- Being child-resistant
- Displaying the standard New Jersey THC warning symbol
- Having the mandatory health warning
- Including pecific product information
Adherence to these rules reduces the risks for accidental or overconsumption, reduces the appeal of cannabis products to minors, and helps consumers be informed consumers.
View or download the full Packaging and Labeling Guide here.
The Edibles Guidance has been crafted to provide instruction to Alternative Treatment Centers, personal-use cannabis Class 2 Manufacturers, and personal-use cannabis Class 5 Retailers on manufacturing and dispensing ingestible cannabis products. They are meant to supplement the Personal Use Cannabis Rules (N.J.A.C. 17:30) and those for Medical Marijuana (N.J.A.C. 17:30A), and are provided pursuant to Commission action on September 8, 2023 to approve waivers to allow the manufacturing and dispensing of additional ingestible products in the medicinal and personal-use cannabis industries.
Prospective employees of a cannabis business must register with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission to obtain a Cannabis Business Identification card (or Employee Identification (ID) card). This card is required by NJ-CRC rules for all cannabis business employees accessing business premises or handling cannabis on behalf of the license holder. Employees must have their NJ-CRC issued Employee ID card before starting their first day of employment.
The process for getting an Employee ID card involves both the prospective employee and the hiring company.
Steps for the hiring operator
The cannabis business license holder is responsible for applying for the Employee ID card by creating an Agent Job Letter in the NJ-CRC licensing portal. Only currently licensed cannabis businesses in good standing with an active license are allowed to issue an Agent Job Letter to an individual.
Navigate to the Agent Job Letter application in the licensing system and select and hit “Create Application.” Complete one form for each individual, for each business license. Make sure that a personal email address is used for the individual to whom you are issuing a Job Offer Letter. This will allow the individual to access the Job Offer Letter in the system. Finally, submit the application.
Pay careful attention to getting the name, date of birth, and SSN of your new hire correctly. If there is any error in these fields, the individual may not be able to access the electronic authorization letter when applying for the Employee ID.
There is no fee associated with creating the Agent Job Offer Letter.
Steps for the prospective employee
Individuals must apply for the Employee ID card for each licensed business with which they are seeking employment. After they have been notified that an Agent Job Offer letter has been created, prospective employees must create their own account in NJ-CRC's licensing portal as an “Individual” using a personal email address. Only one account can be created per person.
After creating an account, the employee should select the relevant Offer Letter, and pay the $25 fee for the card. After the application and the payment are submitted, applying individuals must wait to hear from the hiring company. The NJ-CRC will not be able to provide any employment or onboarding updates, and applicants should contact the hiring manager for updates. The NJ-CRC will only communicate about Employee ID card status with the businesses.
If an individual is going to be employed to more than one cannabis business, they must apply for each separately and have fingerprints completed for each entity.
To secure an Employee ID card, the employee must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Complete a training course approved by the NJ-CRC, covering topics such as the history of cannabis, cultivation techniques, chemotypes, packaging, health education, and relevant laws.
- Undergo a criminal history background check without any disqualifying convictions. Note, a conviction is not necessarily a disqualification.
The documents needed for the Employee ID card application include:
- A copy of the employee's driver's license or other valid photo identification issued by a state or the federal government.
- Proof of a criminal record background check, including rehabilitation evidence for individuals with disqualifying convictions.
Once received, the card is valid for one year from the date of issuance.
The Employee ID card only authorizes the specified work described in the application for the cardholder. For example, if the employee is authorized to handle cannabis cultivation but not distribution, the cardholder is only allowed to participate in cultivation activities.
The information the card displays:
- Employee's name.
- The name of the cannabis business or testing laboratory.
- Dates of issuance and expiration.
- A photograph of the employee.
The NJ-CRC can revoke, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew an Employee ID card if the cardholder violates the law, provides false information, or refuses to cooperate in investigations.
Download the agent job letters and cannabis IDs application guide.
NJ-CRC Workplace Impairment Guidance
Workplace Impairment Observation Report Form (Sample)
Other resources related to cannabis and employment:
- N.J.S.A. C.24:6I-6.1, of the Jake Honig Act
- Wild v Carriage Funeral Holdings, Inc., 2020 New Jersey Supreme Court case
It is always best to seek the advice of counsel for all legal matters.
