NJ legal weed commission delays opening recreational marijuana sales

TRENTON – On any other day, the state’s fledgling cannabis industry would be celebrating.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission on Thursday unanimously awarded the first 68 conditional licenses to adult use cannabis cultivators and manufacturers. The licenses, which include 50 cultivators and 18 manufacturers, were heralded by commissioners as a historic moment in the state’s history.

Commissioner Charles Barker called on people from marginalized backgrounds, “especially the brothers and sisters and communities who have been impacted and devastated by the war on drugs,” to apply for licenses.

“We need you to come hungry and ready … to step up and take your rightful seat at the table,” Barker said. “The time is now.”

Instead, the focus after the meeting was on what was supposed to happen: The commission had been scheduled to vote to allow an unknown number of medical marijuana dispensaries to begin selling legal weed to recreational customers. Statute requires 30 days advance notice, leading many to believe sales could be set to begin in late April.

But commissioners instead chose to table that vote after Executive Director Jeff Brown testified that there simply wasn’t enough proof that there was enough capacity of cannabis for both medical patients and potential recreational customers, including those driving over state lines from New York, Pennsylvania or Delaware. [Read More @ The Asbury Park Press]