The Cannabis Regulatory Commission's decision was a surprise. It did give preliminary approval for 68 smaller operations, but it will take time for them to get up to speed.
In a surprise move, a state commission on Thursday delayed approving the expansion of eight medical marijuana dispensaries to start selling recreational weed as soon as late April.
Brown said the centers simply don’t have enough weed, contending the market may be short by 100,000 pounds to meet both medical and recreational populations. Brown said the CRC would allow the alternative treatment centers to expand weed supply as quickly as possible. The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association said in a statement that while it “remains optimistic that the CRC will sooner rather than later open the adult-use cannabis market in New Jersey ... we admit to being disappointed with today’s decision to further continue its delay.”