NEW JERSEY CANNABUSINESS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON STATE APPELLATE DIVISION LICENSING RULING

Trenton — New Jersey CannaBusiness Association President Scott Rudder issued the following statement today regarding a court ruling that deemed New Jersey’s medical cannabis licensing process “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable”:

“There were already countless reasons to eliminate license caps and competition-based licensing for both medical and adult-use cannabis. This decision only further supports and strengthens those reasons.

“We cannot afford to continue having a medical licensure process that is bogged down in lawsuits and bureaucratic red tape. While fights play out in the courts, New Jersey patients and local entrepreneurs suffer and the black market thrives.

“This flawed process has created only six new dispensaries in three years. Meanwhile, states like Massachusetts have issued hundreds of licenses during that same timeframe and generated thousands of new taxpaying jobs.

“Similar delays and issues in the adult-use market would cripple it before we even got off the ground. It would also heavily favor large companies and corporations instead of giving everyone – especially communities of color – the chance to compete in the market. Let’s allow everyone who meets all necessary qualifications to get involved in the industry if they choose without arbitrary stopgaps from the government.”

About The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association

The NJCBA’s mission is to promote jobs and growth in a sustainable and responsible cannabis industry. Starting with the pioneers in the medical cannabis market to the emerging players in the adult-use space, the NJCBA’s focus is to make certain that decision makers and regulators understand and respect the needs of the CannaBusiness community and that our community remain responsible corporate citizens. Scott Rudder is a former Republican state legislator, mayor, veteran and current government affairs executive.  In addition to his government and political leadership roles, Scott led Business Development efforts for Lockheed Martin Corporation with a focus on energy systems and radar programs.

###