TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission's (NJ-CRC) Permitting and Licensing Committee will host a virtual listening session to gather input from license applicants and business operators about their experiences with the cannabis business license application process. The listening session be held via Zoom on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from noon to 2 p.m., and hosted by the committee chair, Maria Del Cid-Kosso, and NJ- CRC’s board chairwoman, Dianna Houenou.

Current and prospective cannabis entrepreneurs are being invited to share their insights, experiences, and suggestions about all aspects of the permitting and licensing process. Those interested in participating in the virtual listening session are encouraged to register in advance by visiting nj.gov/cannabis/meeting and selecting “Public Hearing.”

"The NJ-CRC is committed to identifying any areas of potential enhancements to our processes. We want to hear from those who have, or are, applying for licenses about what is working for them and what is not," said Commissioner Del Cid-Kosso. “This is an opportunity for us to gather diverse perspectives that will help us create a more efficient and transparent regulatory framework."

As of the April 2024 board meeting, the NJ-CRC has approved 1,856 conditional and annual business license applications and issued 2,200 cure letters for applications with errors.

Commissioner Houenou reiterated the NJ-CRC’s commitment to promoting equity and accessibility within the cannabis industry. "We want to ensure a fair and accessible regulatory environment, and that means hearing if there are obstacles within the process that we are not seeing.”

Registration to speak at the listening session closes on May 14th at 5 p.m. Interested parties may also submit written comments up until May 17th at 5 p.m.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission establishes and enforces the rules and regulations governing the licensing, cultivation, testing, selling, and purchasing of cannabis in the state.

# # #