The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) on Monday approved applications from seven medical cannabis operators in the state to expand into adult-use operations. The companies, Acreage CCF New Jersey, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, GTI New Jersey, Ascend New Jersey, and TerrAscend, must first pass operational inspections before they can sell to adults without medical cannabis cards.
Dianna Houenou, chair of the commission, said that the “approvals were given based on commitments” of the medical cannabis firms – known as Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) – that there would be no “adverse effects” for patients with expansion.
“Expansion into the adult-use market – with a substantial advantageous start ahead of new applicants – is a privilege that must not be taken lightly. We expect these ATCs to uphold their promises to patients and communities; and that recreational customers will be adequately served. The NJ-CRC will be holding these businesses accountable to the commitments that led to their approvals. It is now on these expanded ATCs to keep up with demand – both medicinal and recreational.” – Houenou in a press release
The NJ-CRC also approved 34 conditional license applications for cultivators and manufacturers, bringing the number of conditional license approvals so far to 102, the agency said.
Jeff Brown, CRC executive director, said the approvals bring the state “closer to the opening of the market.”
“We are approving applications for new applicants and have now made way for the ATCs to expand,” he said in a statement. “We are now tasked with completing inspections of the ATCs and getting them permitted to open for business to the general public.”
The approved companies operate a total of 18 dispensaries in New Jersey but only 13 were granted approval to sell to adults.
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