The bill amends New Jersey's legislation on medical cannabis dispensaries by removing the prohibition on establishing satellite locations. It allows alternative treatment centers, which have received permits before or after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153, to maintain up to two satellite dispensaries, while stipulating that any medical cannabis dispensary seeking to establish a satellite location must obtain approval from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and can only maintain one satellite location. This change aims to improve accessibility to medical cannabis for patients by enabling dispensaries to expand their reach.

In addition to the satellite location provisions, the bill introduces several regulatory updates for the medical cannabis industry. It allows dispensaries to provide cannabis products directly to registered patients and caregivers, removes limitations on the number of strains and types of products that can be cultivated or manufactured, and clarifies that nonprofit entities in the sector do not need IRS 501(c)(3) recognition. The bill also mandates criminal history background checks for permit applicants, ongoing employee training, and the maintenance of a standard price list for products. Furthermore, it reinforces regulations regarding conflicts of interest among employees involved in the permit application process and outlines penalties for non-compliance with laws and regulations governing the medical cannabis program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 24:6I-7