ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 6267
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JANUARY 5, 2026
The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 6267.
The bill, as amended, removes certain prohibitions imposed on the commissioners of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (the commission) and makes various reforms concerning the legalized medical and personal use cannabis marketplace.
The amended bill increases the salary of the members of the commission to $160,000, the chair of the commission to $165,000, and the executive director of the commission 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, as amended, permits immediate family members of any State officer, employee, or a person, as defined in N.J.S.A.52:13D-17.2, to represent, appear for, or negotiate on behalf of any holder of or applicant for a medical or adult-use cannabis business.
The bill, as amended, stipulates that a special State officer or employee without responsibility for matters affecting medical or personal use cannabis activity, or an immediate family member of the person, who is associated with certain partnerships, firms, or corporations that represent, appear for, or negotiate on behalf of cannabis businesses must wait two years after leaving office or employment prior to personally participating in any such representation, appearance, or negotiation. Currently, such individuals are required to wait one year after leaving office or employment before obtaining employment with such a business.
The bill modifies the "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act," P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-31 et al.), 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 clarifies that the definition “ownership interest” applies only to present rights to ownership or equity interest in an entity, but not a future right. Moreover, the bill clarifies that an alternative treatment center (ATC) that was expanded to the adult-use market pays the identical fee applicable to the relevant adult-use license renewal fee. The bill establishes that an applicant seeking a minority-owned, women-owned, or disabled-veteran owned certification may reference an investor, the members of an investor group, or fund in order to meet certification requirements. However, the bill requires that upon any change in ownership interest to a minority-owned, women-owned, or disabled-veteran owned business will require such business to recertify with the commission the eligibility of such certification.
The bill requires the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) to develop and implement an enforcement program to identify, investigate, and initiate enforcement actions against unlicensed businesses selling cannabis or cannabis items. The NJSP 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 amended bill specifies that a familial relationship to a license holder, other than the spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner, and a dependent child or stepchild, does not affect the prohibition against a license holder concurrently holding more than one license of each class.
The amended bill provides that the holder of a Class 5 Cannabis Retailer license is authorized to maintain up to two satellite retail locations, provided the licensee first secures commission approval.
The provisions of the bill will become effective on the 90th day following the date of enactment.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amendments clarify that the salary of the commission members, including the chair, is to be fixed at $160,000 and $165,000 respectively, instead of salaries not exceeding those amounts, as fixed and established by the Governor.
The committee amendments clarify that members of the immediate family of any State officer, employee, or a person, as defined in N.J.S.A.52:13D-17.2, may also represent, appear for, or negotiate on behalf of any holder of or applicant for a medical or adult-use cannabis business.
The committee amendments remove a provision permitting members of the immediate family of a special State officer or employee without responsibilities for matters affecting the cannabis industry to hold an interest such businesses.
The committee amendments subject certain persons associated with partnerships, firms, or corporations that represent, appear for, or negotiate on behalf of cannabis business to a two year screening period from personal participation in any such representation, appearance, or negotiation.
The committee amendments clarify that a familial relationship to the holder, other than the spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner, and any dependent child or stepchild, does not affect the prohibition against a license holder concurrently holding more than one license of each class.
The committee amendments permit Class 5 Cannabis Retailer licensees to maintain up to two satellite locations.
The committee amendments change the effective date of the bill to take effect 90 days following enactment, instead of on May 1, 2026.