N.J. Cannabis Commission to hold virtual hearings on how to spend social equity excise tax revenue
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) will hold a series of virtual public meetings in January to gather community input on how the state should allocate revenue generated from the Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) on recreational cannabis sales.
Input from the sessions — along with written comments submitted online — will help shape the Commission’s recommendations to the governor and Legislature on how SEEF dollars should be invested.
The virtual meetings, each focused on a different region of the state, will take place on Zoom:
- North Jersey: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
- Central Jersey: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
- South Jersey: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, 2–3 p.m.
Under the CREAMM Act — which legalized adult-use cannabis — all tax revenue, fees and fines collected by the NJ-CRC are deposited into the CREAMM Fund, with the Legislature appropriating investments in designated Impact Zones. The law requires SEEF revenue to be used specifically for social equity initiatives.
These investments may include assistance for individuals affected by past marijuana convictions, affordable housing programs, educational support, mental health services, or expanded funding for workforce development.
The Commission’s prior recommendations to the Legislature, issued in June 2025, May 2024, February 2023 and June 2022, are available at nj.gov/cannabis/resources/reports-stats-info.
While the NJ-CRC sets the annual SEEF rate and collects public input, the Legislature ultimately determines how the funds are allocated through the state budget.
Although all meetings are open to the public, the Commission is especially seeking region-specific input: North Jersey on Jan. 15, Central Jersey on Jan. 21 and South Jersey on Jan. 29. Residents can register to speak or submit written comments at nj.gov/cannabis/meetings, under the Public Hearings tab.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission oversees the licensing, cultivation, testing, sale and purchase of cannabis in the state.
