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At least for a while, the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association avoided criticizing the sate Cannabis Regulatory Commission as New Jersey’s legal weed industry took its first steps.
That restraint appears to be over. The trade group, whose members often describe it as the chamber of commerce of cannabis, issued a report this month blaming the state commission for the slow growth of the industry and comparing New Jersey unfavorably to other states with legal cannabis for adults.
Todd Johnson, a cannabis industry veteran who has previously served in leadership roles at the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association, was named the group’s executive director Wednesday, the NJCTA announced.
In this new role at NJCTA, Johnson will be responsible for managing internal communication among member organizations and external communication efforts focused on reaching policymakers, government officials and other stakeholders.
A recently published industry report warns that New Jersey’s limited number of legal, licensed and regulated cannabis dispensaries may harm the state’s ability to curtail the illicit cannabis marketplace.
Of the 14 states across the U.S. with legalized adult-use markets, New Jersey – with a population of 9.2 million – had the fewest stores per capita, coming in at 0.3 dispensaries per 100,000 people, according to a study done in partnership between cannabis use and education website Leafly.com and research firm Whitney Economics.
Cannabis trade magazine Marijuana Business Daily estimates that the value of New Jersey’s cannabis industry will quickly grow to more than $2 billion now that cannabis is legal for all adults over 21. For those numbers to be realized, New Jersey cannabis businesses will have to do some hiring. They’ll need people to grow the cannabis, process the cannabis, package the cannabis, and sell the cannabis, not to mention to deliver the cannabis.
New Jersey has finally started to sell recreational marijuana to the general public. But many job seekers in the state may have a big question as the Green Rush begins: How do I get my foot in the door of the cannabis industry?
According to the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA), the answer is simple: Start with what you know.
“I hate to say this, but we may have to start destroying product, and we may have to start potentially letting people go because part of the anticipation is you ramp up your staffing, as well,” said James Leventis, an executive for Verano New Jersey, which has a cultivation and processing facility in Readington Township and three stores in Elizabeth, Lawrence Township and Neptune.
Though Impact Zones and Economically Disadvantaged Areas were codified through legislation, and are based on various factors including unemployment rates, the number of previous marijuana arrests, median income, and uninsured rates, their official recognition by the CRC is particularly meaningful, Shaya Brodchandel, CEO of Harmony Dispensary said.
“I think that the information that we heard was very positive,” said Shaya Brodchandel, president of the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association. “Providing access and the equity part of it was all on point for us.”
Brodchandel is also CEO of Harmony Foundation of New Jersey, a medical marijuana dispensary in Seacaucus. With the new rules in place, he will be able to expand into the adult recreational marketplace. However, he will still need to maintain inventory for the patients his company serves with its medical license.
Sen. Vin Gopal’s bill is geared toward anyone who wants to grow cannabis for recreational use. The bill pushes for up to six plants for recreational use and 10 plants for medicinal use.
“Anyone should be able to have access to this plant, whether it is for medical purposes or for your own personal use,” says Susanna Short.
Back by demand, Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is offering the Cannabis Certification course developed by Valley Wellness CEO Sarah Trent. New Jersey Cannabis Certified will begin on May 3, 2021 and we are proud to announce that the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (“NJCTA”) will be providing six scholarships to individuals who meet demonstrated financial need and live within certain zip codes.
NJ Cannabis Certified is one of the premier cannabis education courses in the state that is designed to train individuals for entry level jobs in the industry.
