Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Cannabis Regulatory Commission

The Office of Minority, Disabled Veterans, and Women Business Development

The Office of Minority, Disabled Veterans, and Women Business Development was established by the CREAMM Act to promote and facilitate a diverse cannabis market in New Jersey. The Office is charged with outreach to underserved populations with information about the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and its programs. Those populations include individuals with conditions that may benefit from the Medicinal Cannabis Program, entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs from socially and economically disadvantaged communities, and communities disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs who want to apply for cannabis business licenses.

For would-be cannabis business operators, we are here to provide information and to help connect them with available resources - including technical assistance - that will help to lower the barriers to entry into the recreational and medicinal cannabis industry.

The CREAMM Act stipulates that at least 15% of licenses across all license classes should be awarded to minorities, and 15% should be awarded to women and disabled veterans. Our commitment is to consistently surpass those benchmarks as the minimum for what will make New Jersey’s cannabis industry diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

How to Submit a Social Equity Application

The following are for information and not an indication of an endorsement of any program by the NJ-CRC.

Professional Training Programs

Cannabis Studies Certificate & Degrees

Workforce Development

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.

Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Record

  • If your record is one of the following offenses:

    • possession of marijuana/hash
    • distribution of <1 ounce of marijuana
    • distribution of <5 grams of hash

    Plus any of the offenses below:
    (only if combined with one of the above)

    • possession of drug paraphernalia
    • use or being under the influence
    • failure to make lawful disposition

    Your record will be automatically expunged - it will no longer be searchable!

    If you want to confirm that your record qualifies for an expungement, even though this is not necessary, you can request a certification by:

    Step 1 - Find “Criminal/Family/Municipal – Expungements – Requests for Copies of Expunged or Sealed Records; Certification of Automatic Expungement” at njcourts.gov

    Step 2 - Scroll to and print out the form on page 13 titled, "Request by Defendant/Juveniles for Copies of Their Own Expunged and/or Sealed Records"

    Step 3 - Fill out Part A and check the box in Part B for "Certification of Expungement by Supreme Court Order"

    Step 4 - Return this form in person to the court where the charges are from and bring a photo ID (i.e. driver's license, passport). If you cannot remember which court this is, it is also acceptable to go to your local municipal court, the criminal or family division of any Superior Court, or the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton.

    Download or print these steps.

SEEF 101