Contact: John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM
Founder, President and CEO
African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
379 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
609-571-1620 • www.aaccnj.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 28, 2022
The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Applauds Issuance of 33 Conditional Licenses for Recreational Marijuana Manufacture and Cultivation
TRENTON, NJ – On Thursday, March 24, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) approved conditional licenses for 68 businesses applying to manufacture or cultivate recreational marijuana in the state. Of the 68 applicants, 33 are Black-owned businesses, according to NJ.com’s NJ Cannabis Insider. This is a marked improvement over the two of 56 medical use licenses the government awarded to Black-owned businesses, which prompted the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) to issue a clarion call for justice for Black businesses in the recreational marijuana space.
“We were heard and appreciate the equitable level of Black businesses that were granted an opportunity to participate in the recreational cannabis industry in our state,” remarked John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President and CEO of the AACCNJ. “We value our partnership with the State of New Jersey, and the recent decisions by the CRC reflect what is possible when a shared vision is realized.”
A conditional license gets the awardees closer to obtaining an annual license, which requires a more comprehensive application process. The AACCNJ will keep a watchful eye on the entire process to fruition.
“There is more work to be done for sure, but this recent news is a step in the right direction,” added Harmon. “In the absence of a statewide disparity study, CRC’s continued transparency and sharing of demographic information about applicants and awardees remains critical to ensure equity in a market that is expected to reach $2 billion in sales by 2025 by most estimates.”
About the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
The AACCNJ performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c)(3) tax exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce.
The AACCNJ has a strategic partnership with the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) and the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) coalescing around free enterprise and capitalistic activities and initiatives. www.aaccnj.com
