SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey cannabis regulators are proposing three new classes of licenses for the marijuana industry — including one for delivery drivers.
The proposals would expand some rules and put pot on a similar level to alcohol.
Licenses are also being proposed for wholesalers and distributors as part of the next phase of the state’s expansion plan.
“Wholesalers are entities, businesses that will buy from cultivators and manufacturers and sell products to retailers,” explained Jeff Brown, executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. “Distributors are essentially trucking services that transport between different licensees. And then delivery services are companies that can partner with retailers to deliver recreational cannabis to consumers at their homes.
“Companies that have cultivation licenses, manufacturing licenses or retail licenses can do some of this stuff on their own in what’s authorized by the law for their licenses, but we do expect smaller businesses to be able to get into this space, particularly for distribution and delivery,” Brown noted.
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The commission is working to move quickly on hundreds of applications already filed, with an emphasis on social equity.
“Minority-owned, women-owned, and disabled veteran-owned businesses,” Brown said. “The goal here really is to give these businesses first crack at getting into this market.”
Public comment on these licenses opens on Aug. 1. It will be about six months before the new rules are implemented.
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Additionally, Brown said the recreational sales market is moving along nicely after a few small issues were corrected early on. Some dispensaries were fined for making recreational sales during exclusive medical sale hours. Brown said those businesses quickly stopped after the concerns were raised.
The state also completely eliminated sales tax on marijuana for those with medical cards.