11. a. The commission shall, no later than 90 days after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-5.1 et al.) or upon adoption of rules and regulations as provided in subsection c. of section 18 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-16), whichever occurs later, begin accepting and processing applications for new medical cannabis cultivator, medical cannabis manufacturer, and medical cannabis dispensary permits. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsubparagraph (i) of subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7), the first three alternative treatment center permits issued by the commission pursuant to an application submitted on or after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-5.1 et al.) and up to four alternative treatment centers permits issued by the commission after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-5.1 et al.) pursuant to an application submitted pursuant to a request for applications published in the New Jersey Register prior to the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-5.1 et al.) shall be deemed to concurrently hold a medical cannabis cultivator permit, a medical cannabis manufacturer permit, and a medical cannabis dispensary permit; of these permits, one permit shall be issued to an applicant located in the northern region of the State, one permit shall be issued to an applicant located in the central region of the State, and one permit shall be issued to an applicant located in the southern region of the State. Any permits issued by the commission thereafter shall be subject to the provisions of subsubparagraph (i) of subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7), and the requirements of subsection d. of this section concerning conditional permits.

b. The commission may establish nonrefundable application fees for permit applications and conditional permit applications, and permit and conditional permit fees for successful applicants.

c. (1) The commission shall make a determination as to any permit application, other than an application for a conditional permit submitted pursuant to subsection d. of this section, no later than 90 days after receiving the application, which may include a determination that the commission reasonably requires more time to adequately review the application.

(2) The commission shall issue a permit, other than a conditional permit, to an approved applicant at such time as the commission completes the application review process and any mandatory inspections, and determines that the applicant is in compliance with and is implementing the plans, procedures, protocols, actions, or other measures set forth in the applicant’s permit application submitted pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-7.2), did maintain compliance with the terms, conditions, or restrictions of a conditional permit issued to the applicant, if applicable, and is otherwise in compliance with the requirements of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-1 et al.).

d. (1) The commission shall ensure that at least one third of the total permits issued for each type of medical cannabis permit are conditional permits, which one-third figure shall include any conditional permit issued to an applicant which is subsequently converted by the commission into a full permit pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection and any conditional permit, including a converted permit, issued to a microbusiness pursuant to subsection e. of this section. The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to permits issued to clinical registrants or to permits issued to the three alternative treatment centers issued a permit pursuant to subsection a. of this section that are expressly exempt from the provisions of subsubparagraph (i) of subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7).

(2) An application for a conditional permit shall include:

(a) documentation that the applicant entity includes at least one significantly involved person who has resided in this State for at least two years as of the date of the application;

(b) a list of all owners, officers, directors, and employees of, and significantly involved persons in, the proposed medical cannabis entity, including their names, addresses, dates of birth, resumes, and a photocopy of their driver’s licenses or other government-issued form of identification;

(c) a criminal history record background check completed pursuant to subsection d. of section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7) for each owner, officer, director, and employee of, and each significantly involved person in, the proposed medical cannabis entity, provided that a conditional permit may be issued pending the results of a criminal history record background check;

(d) documentation that each significantly involved person in the proposed medical cannabis entity has, for the immediately preceding taxable year, an adjusted gross income of no more than $200,000 or no more than $400,000 if filing jointly with another;

(e) a certification that each significantly involved person in the proposed medical cannabis entity does not have any financial interest in an entity applying for any other medical cannabis permit, or in an entity that currently holds a permit issued pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7);

(f) the federal and State tax identification numbers for the proposed medical cannabis entity, and proof of business registration with the Division of Revenue in the Department of the Treasury;

(g) information about the proposed medical cannabis entity, including its legal name, any registered alternate name under which it may conduct business, and a copy of its articles of organization and bylaws;

(h) the business plan and management operation profile for the proposed medical cannabis entity;

(i) the plan by which the applicant intends to obtain appropriate liability insurance coverage for the proposed medical cannabis entity; and

(j) any other requirements established by the commission pursuant to regulation.

(3) The commission shall make a determination on an application for a conditional permit within 30 days after the date the application is received. A determination made pursuant to this paragraph may include a determination that the commission requires more time to adequately review the application. The commission shall approve a permit application that meets the requirements of this subsection unless the commission finds by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant would be manifestly unsuitable to perform the activities authorized for the permit sought by the applicant. The commission shall deny a conditional permit to any applicant who fails to provide information, documentation, and assurances as required by this subsection; who fails to reveal any fact material to qualification; or who supplies information that is untrue or misleading as to a material fact pertaining to the qualification criteria for issuance of a conditional permit. If the application is denied, the commission shall notify the applicant in writing of the specific reason for its denial and provide the applicant with the opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

(4) The commission shall furnish to each entity issued a conditional permit a list of the requirements that the entity will be required to comply with within 120 days after issuance of the conditional permit. If the commission subsequently determines that, during the 120-day period, the conditional permit holder is in compliance with all applicable conditions and is implementing the plans, procedures, protocols, actions, or other measures set forth in its application, the commission shall convert the conditional permit into a full permit, which will expire one year from its date of issuance and be subject to annual renewal; if the commission determines that the conditional permit holder is not in compliance with all applicable conditions or not implementing the plans, procedures, protocols, actions, or other measures set forth in its application, the conditional permit shall automatically expire at the end of the 120-day period, or, at the discretion of the commission, may be revoked prior to the end of the 120-day period.

(5) A conditional permit issued pursuant this subsection may not be sold or transferred.

e. (1) The commission shall ensure that at least 10 percent of the total permits issued for each medical cannabis permit type, other than a clinical registrant permit, are designated for and only issued to microbusinesses, and that at least 25 percent of the total permits issued be issued to microbusinesses. A microbusiness may be issued a full annual permit pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7) or a conditional permit pursuant to subsection d. of this section. The maximum fee assessed by the commission for issuance or renewal of a permit issued to a microbusiness shall be no more than half the fee applicable to a permit of the same type issued to a person or entity that is not a microbusiness. A permit issued to a microbusiness shall be valid for one year and may be renewed annually.

(2) A microbusiness shall meet the following requirements:

(a) 100 percent of the ownership interest in the microbusiness shall be held by current New Jersey residents who have resided in the State for at least the past two consecutive years;

(b) at least 51 percent of the owners, directors, officers, and employees of the microbusiness shall be residents of the municipality in which the microbusiness is or will be located, or a municipality bordering the municipality in which the microbusiness is or will be located;

(c) the microbusiness shall employ no more than 10 employees at one time, inclusive of any owners, officers, and directors of the microbusiness;

(d) the microbusiness shall not exceed the following size and capacity restrictions:

(i) the entire microbusiness facility shall occupy an area of no more than 2,500 square feet;

(ii) in the case of a microbusiness that is a medical cannabis cultivator, the total medical cannabis grow area shall not exceed 2,500 square feet, measured on a horizontal plane, shall grow no higher than 24 feet above that plane, and shall possess a total of no more than 1,000 plants, including mature and immature medical cannabis plants, but not including seedlings;

(iii) in the case of a microbusiness that is a medical cannabis manufacturer, the manufacturer shall acquire and process no more than 1,000 pounds of medical cannabis in dried form each month; and

(iv) in the case of a microbusiness that is a medical cannabis dispensary, the dispensary shall acquire no more than 1,000 pounds of medical cannabis in dried form, or the equivalent amount in any other form, or any combination thereof, for dispensing to or on behalf of registered qualifying patients each month; and

(e) the microbusiness shall comply with such other requirements as may be established by the commission by regulation.

(3) The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to permits issued pursuant to an application submitted pursuant to a request for applications published in the New Jersey Register prior to the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-5.1 et al.).

f. The commission shall have the authority to review any services agreement submitted pursuant to subsection l. of section 12 of P.L.2019, c.153 (C. 24:6I-7.2), and any agreement established under subsubparagraph (ii) of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 7 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C. 24:6I-7) to provide significant financial or technical assistance or the significant use of intellectual property to an applicant, to determine whether the terms of the agreement, including interest rates, returns, and fees, are commercially reasonable and consistent with the fair market value for the terms generally applicable to agreements of a comparable nature. In the event the commission determines the terms of an agreement are not commercially reasonable or consistent with the fair market value generally applicable to the services to be provided under the agreement, the commission shall have the authority to withhold approval of the permit application until the parties renegotiate a new agreement that, as determined by the commission, is commercially reasonable and consistent with the fair market value for the terms generally applicable to agreements of a comparable nature. The parties to the agreement may request that the commission provide guidance as to what terms it would find to be commercially reasonable and consistent with the fair market value generally applicable to agreements of a comparable nature. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the commission to award a permit to an applicant if the commission determines the applicant does not otherwise meet the requirements for issuance of the permit.

L.2019, c.153, s.11; amended 2021, c.252, s.2.