--- title: Cannabis Social Equity Rules in New Jersey description: Learn all about New Jersey's cannabis social equity rules, and how you can establish a successful dispensary business as a social equity applicant in the garden state. --- [![Cova Dispensary Software](https://www.covasoftware.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cova%20Logo/Cova-Logo.png?width=174&height=39&name=Cova-Logo.png)](https://www.covasoftware.com/) - Retail Solutions - [Cannabis POS](https://www.covasoftware.com/pos) - [CBD POS](https://www.covasoftware.com/cbd-pos) - [Payments](https://www.covasoftware.com/payments) - [Ecommerce](https://www.covasoftware.com/ecommerce) - [Inventory Management](https://www.covasoftware.com/dispensary-inventory-management) - [Reporting & Analytics](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-analytics-reporting) - [Compliance](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-dispensary-compliance) - [Canada Retail Suite](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-retail-suite-canada) - [Complete Retail Suite](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-retail-suite-canada) - [Cova Pay](https://www.covasoftware.com/cova-pay-canada) - [Cova eCommerce](https://www.covasoftware.com/cova-ecommerce) - Pricing - [U.S. Pricing](https://www.covasoftware.com/pricing-us) - [Canadian Pricing](https://www.covasoftware.com/pricing-cad) - Resources - [4/20 Guide](https://www.covasoftware.com/420-retail-guide-for-cannabis-dispensaries) - [Cannabis Retail Blog](https://www.covasoftware.com/blog) - [Guides & Best Practices](https://www.covasoftware.com/guides-and-best-practices) - [Cannabis Laws](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-law) - [How to Open a Dispensary](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-open-a-dispensary) - [Case Studies](https://www.covasoftware.com/customer_story) - [FAQ](https://www.covasoftware.com/faq) - Contact - [Book a Consultation](https://www.covasoftware.com/get-started) - [Customer Support](https://support.covasoftware.com/) - [General Inquiry](https://www.covasoftware.com/contact) - [Request Demo](https://www.covasoftware.com/demo) [Request Demo](https://www.covasoftware.com/demo) # NEW JERSEY # CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY RULES Social Equity Rules Select State ![down_arrow](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/1545951/sphere_theme_2020/images/Blog/Shape_1.png) - [California](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/california) - [Colorado](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/colorado) - [Illinois](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/illinois) - [Massachusetts](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/massachusetts) - [Michigan](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/michigan) - [New Jersey](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/newjersey) - [New York](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program/newyork) NEW JERSEY New Jersey is prioritizing cannabis license applications from minority groups to ensure diversity in the industry. [Priority applications](https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/businesses/priority-applications/) will increase opportunities in the cannabis industry for people from designated target communities, for people with cannabis convictions (expunged or not), and for minorities, women, and disabled veterans.  Three types of cannabis businesses will receive priority review and approval in the application process: - Diversely Owned Businesses - minority-owned, woman-owned, or disabled veteran-owned and certified as such by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury in one or more of the listed categories - Social Equity Businesses - owned by people who have lived in an *Economically Disadvantaged Area* of the state, or who have convictions for cannabis-related offenses (expunged or not) - Impact Zone Businesses - located in an *Impact Zone*, owned by people from an Impact Zone, or employing residents of Impact Zones. Social Equity Businesses, Diversely Owned Businesses, and Impact-Zone businesses will be prioritized in the licensure process so that their applications are reviewed before other applicants – regardless of when they apply. Microbusinesses, which are limited to 10 employees and 2,500 square feet, will also be prioritized and, if successful, allowed to apply to expand their business in accordance with consumer demand.  [![LET'S CHAT!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2821811/00269a9b-078b-425b-b348-cc1e451ba308.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2821811/00269a9b-078b-425b-b348-cc1e451ba308) # RELATED GUIDES ## [Ebook: How to Open a Cannabis Store in Canada](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-open-a-cannabis-retail-in-canada-ebook) [Read More](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-open-a-cannabis-retail-in-canada-ebook) ## [Ebook: How to Open a Cannabis Dispensary (U.S. Edition)](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-open-a-cannabis-dispensary-ebook) [Read More](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-open-a-cannabis-dispensary-ebook) ## [Ebook: Why Some Cannabis Retailers Fail (And the Secrets of Those Who Succeed)](https://www.covasoftware.com/why-cannabis-retailers-fail-or-succeed-ebook) [Read More](https://www.covasoftware.com/why-cannabis-retailers-fail-or-succeed-ebook) ### Retail Solutions - [Cannabis POS](https://www.covasoftware.com/pos) - [CBD POS](https://www.covasoftware.com/cbd-pos) - [Payments CBD](https://www.covasoftware.com/payments/cbd) - [Payments Canada](https://www.covasoftware.com/cova-pay-canada) - [Payments USA](https://www.covasoftware.com/payments) - [Ecommerce Canada](https://www.covasoftware.com/cova-ecommerce) - [Ecommerce USA](https://www.covasoftware.com/cova-ecommerce-us) - [Gift Cards](https://www.covasoftware.com/giftcard) - [Inventory Management](https://www.covasoftware.com/dispensary-inventory-management) - [Reporting & Analytics](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-analytics-reporting) - [Compliance](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-dispensary-compliance) - [Enterprise](https://www.covasoftware.com/enterprise-pos99) ### Customers - [Customer Stories](https://www.covasoftware.com/customer_story) - [Customer Referral Program](https://www.covasoftware.com/refer) ### Pricing - [U.S.](https://www.covasoftware.com/pricing-us) - [Canada](https://www.covasoftware.com/pricing-cad) ### Resources - [Blog](https://www.covasoftware.com/blog) - [Best Practices & Guides](https://www.covasoftware.com/guides-and-best-practices) - [Cannabis Laws](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-law) - [Where is Cannabis Legal?](https://www.covasoftware.com/blog/where-is-cannabis-legal-in-north-america-in-2026) - [Cannabis Social Equity Guide](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-social-equity-program) - [How to Open a Dispensary Guide](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-open-a-dispensary) - [How to Scale a Cannabis Business Guide](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-scale-a-cannabis-business-guide) - [Cannabis Payment Guide ](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-dispensary-payment-guide) - [Cannabis Ecommerce Guide](https://www.covasoftware.com/how-to-start-cannabis-ecommerce-delivery) - [Dispensary Technology Guide](https://www.covasoftware.com/cannabis-technology-guide) - [Guide to Modern Dispensary Design](https://www.covasoftware.com/guide-to-dispensary-design) - [FAQs](https://www.covasoftware.com/faq) ### Partners and Integrations - [Partners](https://www.covasoftware.com/integrations) - [Carrot](https://app.hubspot.com/pages/2821811/editor/197789271693/content) - [Springbig](https://www.covasoftware.com/springbig-loyalty) - [Weedmaps](https://www.covasoftware.com/weedmaps-integration) - [Leafly](https://www.covasoftware.com/leafly-integration) - [KayaPush](https://www.covasoftware.com/dispensary-scheduling) - [Solink](https://www.covasoftware.com/solink-integration) - [Top Ecommerce Platforms](https://www.covasoftware.com/best-dispensary-ecommerce-reviews) ### Company - [Our Story](https://www.covasoftware.com/about-old) - [Markets we Serve](https://www.covasoftware.com/pos/markets-old) - [Our Customers](https://www.covasoftware.com/customer_story) - [In The News](https://www.covasoftware.com/news) - [Events](https://www.covasoftware.com/events) - [Our Team](https://www.covasoftware.com/about) - [Careers](https://www.covasoftware.com/careers) - [Contact Us](https://www.covasoftware.com/contact) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/CovaSoftware/) - [**](https://twitter.com/CovaSoftware) - [**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM5KLyZ4jpFhnKpg2Xf8Kgw) - [**](https://www.instagram.com/covapos/) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/covasoftware) - [**](https://www.pinterest.ca/covasoftware) Retail Innovation Labs LLC Trading as Cova Software. 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