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CRC reports growth in dispensaries and workforce, announces PSE&G energy-efficiency webinar
Summary
Executive Director Riggs told the commission that dispensary openings and workforce growth continue and announced a PSE&G energy-efficiency webinar hosted by the CRC's Office of Diversity & Inclusion for Feb. 26.
Executive Director Chris Riggs summarized industry metrics during the Feb. 12 commission meeting, reporting that more than 299 dispensaries (medical and recreational) are open across New Jersey’s 21 counties and that the licensed workforce exceeds 12,000 people.
Riggs said roughly 3,000 applications have been submitted through the CRC portal, with about 2,500 approved by the board; at the time of the meeting staff reported approximately 331 applications under review, about 202 pending resubmission following a cure, and 157 with investigations for property review. He also reported totals for approved licenses — including conditional licenses and conversion counts — and said application cycle times have dropped since 2021 (annual license averages down to ~132 days in 2025; conversion licenses ~166 days; conditionals ~47 days). Riggs said 83% of applications since July 2024 were approved by the board in fewer than 250 days.
On market size, Riggs noted the state recorded quarterly sales that exceeded $324 million in 2025 and said estimated workforce growth showed steady hiring (average monthly new hires ~567 in 2025; 512 in January 2026). He described the CRC’s plan to digitize operations with a Salesforce rollout that will integrate licensing and agency data and provide public dashboards in the coming weeks.
Wesley McWhite, director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, announced a joint CRC/PSE&G webinar on energy-efficiency initiatives and financing options for cannabis facilities on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 1:15–2:30 p.m. The webinar is intended for operators planning construction, gut rehabilitation, or retrofits and will include information about available technical assistance; CRC emphasized it is only hosting the informational session and that PSE&G determines program eligibility.
Riggs and other commissioners urged licensees to submit complete applications (attachments, exhibits and notarizations) to avoid extended review times and to coordinate with compliance officers on advertising, raffles, and other regulated promotional activity.
