The NJ-CRC approved the Notice of Application Acceptance (NOAA) for consumption areas. Applications will open on January 2, 2025, for retail businesses designated as Social Equity. This includes owners with cannabis-related convictions or those who have lived in Economically Disadvantaged Areas.

On April 2, 2025, microbusinesses and Diversely-Owned dispensaries can start applying. Diversely-Owned means businesses that are minority-owned, woman-owned, or disabled veteran-owned as certified by the New Jersey Department of Treasury. On July 2, 2025, all other Class 5 retail operators can submit their applications.

The consumption area Notice of Application Acceptance and the Municipal Approval Form are now on our website.

The Commission also approved its 2025 public meeting schedule, which includes ten meetings: six will be held at 44 South Clinton Avenue in Trenton, and four will be virtual. All meetings will begin at 11 a.m. In-person meetings will continue to be streamed live on YouTube, with the opportunity for in-person, telephonic, and written comments. The virtual meetings will be hosted on Zoom and then posted on YouTube. 

• Thursday, February 6
• Thursday, March 6 (virtual)
• Thursday, April 3
• Thursday, May 1 (virtual)
• Thursday, June 5
• Thursday, July 10 (virtual)
• Thursday, August 7
• Wednesday, September 10 (virtual)
• Thursday, October 2
• Thursday, December 11