It’s here: Preparing for the upcoming recreational cannabis haze and craze

It is anticipated that state regulators will unveil the application process at any time within the next several weeks in order to commence the processing and issuance of recreational cannabis licenses in New Jersey. Thus, there is considerable excitement amongst real estate operators and potential cannabis businesses for the inevitable rapid and (likely) significant growth of the cannabis industry in New Jersey in the coming months and years. Notwithstanding such, as cannabis businesses will be highly regulated at both the state and local level (and remain illegal under federal law), it is critical that property owners and business owners fully evaluate the many regulatory, zoning, operational, and financing challenges associated with utilizing properties for cannabis uses.