The Health Department will start accepting applications for the new licenses on July 1 and will accept them through Aug. 15.
New Jersey is on the verge of an expansion that could add more growers, manfacturers and retailers in the states medical marijuana program.
While this move signals strong intent from the administration of Gov. Phil Murphy to grow a program that has seen marijuana supply shortages and long lines for patients, it will likely still be months before any of these new businesses would be up and running.
“We are at a point where patients just cannot wait any longer for easily accessible, affordable therapy,” state Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal said. “This request for applications allows for specialization of businesses to increase medical product in our state.”
The Health Department will start accepting applications for the new licenses on July 1 and will accept them through Aug. 15.
This is the first time the state will issue separate licenses for growers, processors and retailers. All six of the businesses already in operation are vertically integrated, meaning they all grow, process and sell marijuana in-house, as are the six providers selected last year.
Now it will be possible for a license holder to sell marijuana without also having to grow and process it.
The Health Department also plans to issue 38 more licenses for cannabis Alternative Treatment Centers in the northern and central regions of the state and up to 32 for the southern region.
Since Murphy, a Democrat, took office, the number of patients in New Jersey’s medical marijuana program has ballooned, from less than 17,000 to nearly 50,000.
We are at a point where patients just cannot wait any longer for easily accessible, affordable therapy. This request for applications allows for specialization of businesses to increase medical product in our state,” said Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal.
Source – NJ.com
Image – Rexmedlen (p)
