Curaleaf Chairman Plans to Use ‘Any Legal Means Necessary’ to Restore New Jersey Adult-Use Permits

In a statement released following the decision by New Jersey regulators to deny the renewal of Curaleaf’s adult-use cannabis license, Boris Jordan, Curaleaf’s chairman, said the company would use “any legal means necessary” to “ensure renewal” of the permits. 

In the statement, Jordan called the action by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s (CRC) Board “unprecedented” and “disappointing” and that the decision “overrode the Commission’s own staff recommendation that our adult use licenses be renewed.”  

“We believe the CRC Board has wrongly interpreted the applicable regulations and that its decision to retaliate against Curaleaf for our need to consolidate production into one local facility is lacking in merit. Curaleaf has never been cited for such a violation and we believe there is no regulation requiring permission for the staff reduction we announced. Curaleaf is in good standing with the CRC and has fulfilled the requirements necessary for the renewal of our licenses.” — Jordan in an April 14 statement     

The CRC, on April 13, cited a decision by Curaleaf last month to close one of its cultivation facilities and lay off 40 employees as one reason for revoking the company’s adult-use license. Regulators also cited Curaleaf’s clash with unionization and the company’s lack of transparency as reasons for rejecting the license renewal. New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis law requires licensees to maintain business peace agreements as a condition and requires collective bargaining within 200 days after a dispensary first opens if the majority of employees vote to form a union. 

Curaleaf’s adult-use license expires on Friday. In the statement, Curaleaf said it “remains open for business and will continue working with the CRC Board and its staff to ensure renewal” of its adult-use licenses.