New Jersey officials have announced six new dispensary licensees, effectively doubling the capacity of the state’s medical cannabis program, The Courier Post reports.
New Jersey’s new medical cannabis licenses are for vertically integrated segments, meaning the six new dispensary licenses also include the right to grow and supply said dispensaries, which the state has dubbed “Alternative Treatment Centers.”
The new Alternative Treatment Centers were awarded at strategic locations across the state.
“Six very strong applicants were selected, including minority-owned and women-owned businesses. We will meet with them early next year to refine their timetable for growing product and opening their doors. We are committed to an equitable expansion of supply to meet growing patient demand, and these new locations will reach patients that currently have to travel longer distances to obtain the therapy.” — Dr. Shereef Elnahal, New Jersey Health Commissioner, in a press release
146 businesses applied for the six licenses. The licensees and their locations are:
- NETA NJ, LLC, Phillipsburg
- GTI New Jersey, LLC, Paterson
- Verano NJ, LLC, growing in Rahway, dispensing in Elizabeth
- Justice Grown, Ewing
- MPX New Jersey, growing in Galloway, dispensing in Atlantic City
- Columbia Care New Jersey, Vineland
The businesses must now begin the process of background checks, finalizing local government approval, and meeting other regulatory standards.
Meanwhile, New Jersey is also advancing adult-use legalization which is expected to be considered by lawmakers early next year.