LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 6267

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 24, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Makes various changes to membership on Cannabis Regulatory Commission and to legalized medical and personal use cannabis marketplace.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Cannabis Regulatory Commission in the Department of the Treasury; Department of Law and Public Safety; Department of Labor and Workplace Development.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

 

 

 

Annual State Expenditure Increase

 

At least $300,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the required salary increases under the bill for the Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s five members and the Executive Director will increase annual compensation costs by $198,000, plus benefits.

 

·         The State Police may incur additional annual expenditures to develop and implement an enforcement program pursuant to the bill.  The OLS notes to the extent the State Police are already undertaking activities required by the bill, any State expenditure increases would be minimized.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill removes certain prohibitions imposed on the commissioners of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and makes various reforms concerning the legalized medical and personal use cannabis marketplace.

      The bill increases the maximum salaries of the four non-chairing members of the commission from $125,000 to $160,000; the chair of the commission from $141,000 to $165,000; and the executive director of the commission from $141,000 to $175,000.  The bill also establishes that a majority of the authorized members of the commission designate the chair of the commission.  Under current law, the Governor designates the chair of the commission.

      The bill modifies the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act as it relates to Workplace Impairment Recognition Experts (WIRE).  The bill renames WIRE to “Workplace Impairment Recognition Evaluator,” shifts certain certification authority from the Police Training Commission to the Department of Labor and Workplace Development, and finally, requires the commission to issue a certification to a person upon completion of necessary courses.  

      The bill requires the New Jersey State Police to develop and implement an enforcement program to identify, investigate, and initiate enforcement actions against unlicensed businesses selling cannabis or cannabis items.  The State Police or a local law enforcement agency is permitted to take steps to close such businesses, seize any cannabis sold by the unlicensed business, and refer the matter for criminal prosecution.  In addition, an unlicensed business may be deemed a public nuisance subject to abatement under State and municipal law.

      The bill permits the commission to make recommendations to the Legislature related to the establishment of a new license type.

      Finally, the bill clarifies that the commission may, by rule or regulation, exempt certain employees, including entry-level employees, from the requirements of a criminal history background check.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

        None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that the required salary increases under the bill for the Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s five members and Executive Director will increase annual salary costs by $198,000. Applying the current Public Employees’ Retirement System fringe benefit rate of 59.4 percent, the total estimated annual compensation would increase by at least $300,000 to the State.

      The State Police may incur additional annual expenditures to develop and implement an enforcement program pursuant to the bill. The OLS notes to the extent the State Police are already undertaking activities required by the bill, any State expenditure increases would be minimized.

 

 

Section:

Judiciary

Analyst:

Anuja Pande Joshi

Senior Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).