Notes on regulation, in plain English.
Original commentary on the regulatory questions that come up in actual practice. Published occasionally; not a content marketing program.
NJ’s April 20 Satellite Rule (P.L. 2025, c.325): Three Locations Per Class 5 — Through the Right Door
Effective April 20, 2026, a Class 5 retailer may operate one main dispensary and two satellite locations. It is a location rule, not a license rule — and the distinction decides your structure.
DEA Rescheduling: Medical Moved. Adult-Use Did Not. The Split Is the Story.
The April 2026 final order moved FDA-approved products and state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III. Adult-use remains Schedule I — and most of what operators were told about 280E relief does not apply to them.
Class 5 Retail in Light Industrial Zones: The Pennsville Pattern
A surprising number of New Jersey municipalities permit Class 5 retail cannabis only in Light Industrial zones. The economic consequences are predictable, and the path to amendment is cleaner than most operators assume.
The CUP Trap: Five Mistakes That Kill Cannabis Applications at Planning
A site can clear every regulatory checkbox and still fail at the Planning Commission. Five recurring patterns explain most of the failures.