On July 2, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act into law. This law amended the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, N.J.S.A. 24:6i-2 et seq., which is now known as the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act (CUMCA).

The amendments to CUMCA create new opportunities for applicants to apply to operate an alternative treatment center (ATC). Previously, New Jersey law only permitted applicants to apply for vertically integrated licenses. Under CUMCA, the permit process includes three different permit types, and three categories of permits. The new permit types are medical cannabis cultivator, dispensary and manufacturer permits, and are to be applied for individually. The vertically integrated ATC will continue to be able to cultivate, manufacture and dispense. The categories of permits are traditional, conditional and microbusiness permits.

An applicant would apply for a permit to operate an ATC and simultaneously apply for a permit endorsement authorizing the ATC to cultivate, manufacture or dispense usable marijuana.