What Does The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Do?
Regulatory requirements for medical and personal use cannabis programs in New Jersey are determined by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). That includes consumer health and safety standards, as well as the mandatory testing that producers must complete before their goods are approved for sale on dispensary shelves.
For anyone looking to run a legal cannabis business, it is essential to have an understanding of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission and the role that it plays in the operation of the industry. For cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensaries, it’s critical to also understand your obligations regarding cannabis testing and analysis.
In this blog, you will learn:
The NJCRC’s role and responsibilities
Who is on the NJCRC
When the NJCRC meets
What is the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission?
The New Jersey CRC is the primary regulatory body overseeing the implementation of both New Jersey’s medical and adult-use cannabis markets. Among its other responsibilities, the NJCRC is directly responsible for issuing licenses for medicinal and recreational cannabis business operations in New Jersey. The NJCRC refers to adult-use, or recreational, cannabis as “personal use cannabis.”
All commercial cannabis businesses that “touch the plant” require an active license. These plant-touching businesses include cultivation facilities, manufacturers such as cannabis extraction labs, and dispensaries where the product is sold to the customer or patient. Additional businesses that require licensing include delivery or transportation services, which also touch the plant while in transit, and testing laboratories that take samples of the cannabis products for analytical testing for safety and compliance.
What is the NJCRC responsible for?
While licensing is one of the most notable things the NJCRC does, that is not all the commission is responsible for. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission also establishes guardrails to combat deceptive business contracts and ownership transfers, as well as regulating and monitoring the cultivation, processing, distribution, and sale of cannabis products.
Here is an overview of everything that falls under the NJCRC’s purview:
Licensing: All commercial cannabis businesses require an active license to conduct activities such as growing cannabis, or testing cannabis plants. The NJCRC is responsible for creating and facilitating the application process, as well as approving or denying applicants.
Cultivation: In addition to managing licensing for cultivators, the NJCRC also creates rules and restrictions governing cultivation facilities and ensures the collection of applicable annual licensing fees.
Testing: All NJ cannabis testing labs need to be ISO 17025 certified and approved by the Commission to be able to test products. The NJCRC requires that labs have strict chain of custody protocols for samples and that all market items will be labeled with product testing results.
Selling: The NJCRC is responsible for creating the rules and requirements around cannabis sales. For example, all products for sale must be fully enclosed in child-resistant packaging. They also create limits on tax and set regulations for wholesalers.
Purchasing: Rules and regulations over purchasing are put in place by the NJCRC to protect both manufacturers and consumers. According to their FAQ, consumers over the age of 21 can legally purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis or an equivalent amount of cannabis product.
Who is on the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission?
The NJCRC features six positions and four distinct roles, each of which is responsible for a different type of oversight. The following breakdown of the six leadership roles includes the current members of the NJCRC as of December 2021.
Jeff Brown, Executive Director
Jeff Brown, Executive Director (Photo credit: NJCRC)
The executive director of the NJCRC is responsible for the management and direction of the staff and offices at the commission, as well as the operations necessary to regulate the state’s cannabis industry. Prior to his role as executive director, Brown served as Assistant Commissioner at the NJ Department of Health, overseeing the Division of Medicinal Marijuana.
Dianna Houenou, Chair
Dianna Houenou, Chair (Photo credit: NJCRC)
The chair of the NJCRC works with other members of the Commission and the Executive Director to successfully start up and operate New Jersey’s first agency to regulate the adult-use cannabis market. Houenou came to NJ four years ago to work with the New Jersey chapter of the ACLU and was in charge of the state-wide coalition called New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform.
Samuel Delgado, Vice Chair
Samuel Delgado, Vice Chair (Photo credit: NJCRC)
The vice-chair is responsible for regulations, oversight, and enforcement of activities pertaining to medical and personal use cannabis for the state of New Jersey in accordance with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act. Samuel Delgado is a former Marine Corps Reserve Combat Communication Officer, and retired Vice President of External Affairs for Verizon, New Jersey.
Commissioners
Commissioners are responsible for governance. Essentially, they oversee all businesses producing and selling medical and recreational marijuana in the Garden State. In addition to approving regulations and providing strategic direction, they host public meetings with stakeholders.
Charles Barker is one of 3 commissioners for NJCRC. Formerly the Constituent Advocate and Projects Specialist to U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Barker managed several policy areas including criminal justice reform and cannabis. He received his Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.
Charles Barker, Commissioner (Photo credit: NJCRC)
Maria Del Cid-Kosso: Prior to being appointed to the NJCRC, commissioner Maria Del Cid-Kosso was the Director of Policy and Legislative Services at the New Jersey Department of Health. Maria is a dedicated public servant and is passionate about amplifying marginalized voices in politics and expanding educational opportunities to undocumented youth.
Maria Del Cid-Kosso, Commissioner (Photo credit: NJCRC)
Krista G. Nash Krista joined the NJCRC after working as the Director of the PROMISE Program at Volunteers of America Delaware Valley. Krista is a licensed social worker who has devoted her career to social justice involving homelessness and prison reform.
Krista G. Nash, Commissioner (Photo credit: NJCRC)
When does the NJCRC meet?
As of February 2022, The NJCRC meets approximately once a month online via Zoom video conference. These meetings are open to the public, but speakers must register ahead of time to secure their spots. The public is also able to submit comments in writing to the commission. Click here for a full schedule of upcoming CRC meetings.
NJCRC offers essential guidance for the Garden State’s cannabis industry
Compliance is a top priority for every cannabis business in New Jersey. Whether you are operating a testing laboratory or a medical dispensary, the NJCRC is the backbone of business and consumer compliance in the Garden State. For more information on the NJCRC, visit nj.gov/cannabis.