The role of this office (also referred to as the CRC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion) is to establish practices and procedures for promoting inclusion of diverse populations in the medicinal and recreational cannabis industries. On top of promoting participation, this office aims to implement programs and other initiatives that can promote equitable inclusion. 

The CREAMM Act requires the State to take steps to expunge people’s records for certain marijuana- and hashish-related offenses, including any arrest or conviction records. In addition, the Attorney General issued Directive 2021-1 that instructs state, county, and municipal prosecutors to dismiss pending charges for certain marijuana-related offenses.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission does not have direct involvement in the expungement process. 

For more information about expungements, visit the New Jersey Courts website.

For more information about law enforcement and marijuana or cannabis, visit the Office of the Attorney General’s website.

Yes. The CRC cannot use someone’s prior marijuana charges or convictions to disqualify them in the application process. The law does not prohibit people with prior criminal convictions from applying for a recreational cannabis business license.