“There are a lot of multi-state operators coming in that have spent tons and tons of money over the last few years,” the ACLU's Joe Johnson says about NJ's marijuana industry. The ACLU claims that applicants say the industry's cost of entry is too high.
, for a public comment period that’s open until Sept. 30 — all aimed at giving small businesses with diverse owners a shot at competing effectively with larger, more established marijuana industry players.
Many would-be applicants don’t have the resources to seek out the municipal approvals they need in addition to the state’s OK, the ACLU said. Some towns charge high fees for local applications, while others don’t allow marijuana sales at all. Equity applicants struggle with a tight real estate market overall — making it difficult to find somewhere to set up shop.The industry as it stands
This is already changing people's lives. This is already altering, you know, wealth, disparities and wealth gaps in neighborhoods.The CRC’s process aims to encourage those applications, prioritizing reviews of applications from several categories of businesses. One is for minority-owned, woman-owned, or disabled veteran-owned businesses. Another is for people who live in economically disadvantaged areas, or who have convictions on their record for marijuana offenses.
“That [equity] priority is great, you know, it'll get you to the front of the line to have your application reviewed,” Johnson said. “But it doesn't help address a lot of the concerns that people from the community feel in terms of trying to get into the industry.”existing marijuana businesses reported $80 million in sales in the first 10 weeks of recreational marijuana operations alone.
Among the changes the ACLU is seeking to the CRC’s rules: It would have the state create an equity fund for grants and loans,, and provide funding to the state’s Office of Minority, Disabled Veterans, and Women Cannabis Business Development. Financial assistance programs and waivers for equity applications would help with costs. Mentorship programs would be established.
the process is “fraught with so many challenges for social equity applicants,” citing issues like the limited number of towns allowing for marijuana licenses, and the steep competition from multi-state operators.
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