Video

As NJ's marijuana market expands, more companies are searching for skilled workers with experience in the industry. Raven Santana sits down with cannabis industry representatives and labor experts to discuss the types of workers needed in the industry and what jobs and training are available. Raven also speaks to a local union representative about the wave of unionization in the industry.

New Jersey is on the verge of allowing cannabis-infused baked goods and beverages to be sold at recreational dispensaries for the first time since recreational sales began in the state. Supporters of the move say the relaxing of rules will bring more options to consumers and potentially grow the market. State regulators and poison control experts are warning that such products must be handled with care, especially to keep them out of the hands of small children.

The first recreational cannabis applicant to be approved for the city of Hoboken is now seeing that approval reversed for being too close to a school.

The community group Hoboken for Responsible Cannabis filed the successful challenge against the proposed dispensary, Blue Violets, owned by Lauren Chang Thompson and her husband Max.

The first phase in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s grant program focusing on equity was announced Tuesday. “We are a family minority and women-owned business, said grant recipient Francesca DeRogatis, of Nightjar Holdings. The cannabis dispensary in Bloomfield is one of 48 businesses awarded a cannabis equity grants totaling $250,000.

John De Los Santos has a plan to open a new recreational cannabis dispensary in Paterson, his hometown; he was given conditional approval last year by state regulators for it. The only thing stopping him is city politics.

Paterson has a limit of three recreational cannabis dispensaries in the city and that quota has been filled. That leaves De Los Santos on the outside looking in, as he struggles to keep investors and a lease in place.

On Tuesday, the second recreational cannabis dispensary in Atlantic City opened. The Design 710 dispensary is owned by Christina Casile, who said the long process to get her business up and running was anything but fun.

While Mayor Marty Small and other city officials previously expressed their support for cannabis-related tourism, in late July they announced that all new license grants would be put on hold in late July.

State Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued guidelines that allow law enforcement officers to use recreational cannabis while off duty as long as it doesn’t hurt on-the-job performance. But first responders are still not clear on the details.

“There’s so many uncertainties now that we still don’t have answers to,” said Steve McConlogue, who heads the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey. He advises that nobody should come to work impaired by any substance.

Mike Davis, a reporter with the Asbury Park Press, explains how municipalities are benefiting and what the money is being spent on. “In Lawrence Township and Mercer County, their business administrator told me they’re basically able to pay for their trash collection next year just off of cannabis alone,” Davis said.

In an interview with NJ Spotlight News, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small explains the decision and the future of cannabis in the city.

“Our plan is still to be the East Coast hub when it comes to cannabis,” Small said. “We don’t want to oversaturate the market here in the city … so we’re just taking a little pause to make sure that we roll this thing out right.”

The first dispensary for sales of recreational marijuana opened in Ocean County Friday. Before the Social Leaf Dispensary opened in South Toms River, customers would have to travel long distances to access recreational products.

Last week also saw the opening for medical marijuana sales of the Bloc Dispensary in Waretown, Ocean County.