New Jersey CannaBusiness Association

What New Jersey CannaBusiness Association does

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) is a private trade association founded in 2016 and headquartered at 435 Valley Brook Avenue, PMB 300, Lyndhurst, NJ. It is self-described as the first and largest cannabis trade association in New Jersey, serving cannabis operators (cultivators, manufacturers, retailers), ancillary service providers (legal, financial, insurance, energy, technology, testing), pre-revenue startups, and social-equity candidates in the state's adult-use and medical cannabis markets. The organization is led by President Bill Caruso (general counsel from Archer & Greiner), Executive Director Jenna-Rae Russo, Treasurer Stacey Udell, Events Coordinator Felice Twaddle, and Policy Advisor Michael Turner (a co-founder), with Scott Rudder (founder) and Edmund DeVeaux having previously served as President.

NJCBA operates a seven-tier annual membership structure priced from $50 (Grassroots) to $20,000 (Diamond), with non-refundable dues and revocable membership subject to NJCBA discretion. Tier benefits scale with sponsorship inventory (Lunch & Learn slots, event sponsorships, YouTube commercials, newsletter spotlights, booth space, social media takeovers) rather than with technology features. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues, event sponsorships, and event registration fees (e.g., B2B networking at $35 for members / $40 for future members; holiday parties free for members / $50 for future members). Distribution and member management run through the Glue Up SaaS platform, the organization's own website, and in-person event venues across New Jersey including Atlantic City (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for MJ Unpacked), Rutherford, and Bergenfield. The core technology is Glue Up; NJCBA does not develop proprietary technology products.

NJCBA's go-to-market combines event-driven acquisition (monthly networking events, panel discussions, Lunch & Learn webinars, multi-day workshops, ribbon cuttings) with direct sales of membership packages via email ([email protected]) and phone (609-635-9508). The association's strategic alliance (formalized July 14, 2023) with Minorities for Medical Marijuana – New Jersey and seven other minority-focused organizations (NAACP, multiple Hispanic chambers, Salvation & Social Justice, Camden Business Association) extends its social-equity positioning. Membership is a recurring annual subscription, with renewal and tier upgrades as the primary revenue motion.

Name

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association

Legal name

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association

Website

https://newjerseycannabusiness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) is a private cannabis trade association, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Lyndhurst, NJ, serving cultivators, retailers, ancillary service providers, and social-equity candidates across New Jersey's cannabis industry through a seven-tier membership model, advocacy, and event programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyndhurst

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NJCBA generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues at seven tier levels. Higher tiers (Diamond at $20,000, Corporate at $10,000, Platinum at $5,000) provide substantial revenue with corresponding benefits including event sponsorships, promotional opportunities, and thought leadership visibility.
2. Event Sponsorship: The organization generates revenue through event sponsorship packages, including Lunch & Learn sponsorships. Sponsors receive promotion to listserv of 2,200+ individuals, dedicated social media posts to 9,500+ followers, and recognition during events.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from member and non-member event registration fees, including B2B networking events ($35 members, $40 future members), supplier spotlight events, and holiday parties (Free for members, $50 for future members).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) is a cannabis industry trade association offering tiered annual memberships (seven tiers from Grassroots at $50 to Diamond at $20,000), advocacy services at state and municipal levels, networking events including monthly gatherings and supplier spotlights, business promotion via newsletters and social media, educational programming through Lunch & Learn webinars, and committee participation in policy areas including edibles, lab testing, consumption lounges, hemp, and cannabinoids.

Product overview

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association is a trade association offering a tiered membership structure ranging from $50 (Grassroots) to $20,000 (Diamond) annually. Membership packages scale from 1 to 10 members and include varying levels of access to networking events, sponsorship opportunities, product promotion capabilities, and industry advocacy. The association also operates the Lunch & Learn interview series, provides committee participation opportunities, and utilizes the Glue Up platform for member management and exclusive networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NJCBA Membership Program Tiered annual membership program for New Jersey cannabis industry businesses and professionals, ranging from Grassroots individual membership to Diamond top-tier corporate membership. Includes legislative/regulatory advocacy representation, networking events, business promotion via newsletter and social media, Lunch & Learn sponsorship opportunities, and committee participation.
• Lunch & Learn Interview Series Free 30-minute interview webinar series on Zoom featuring leading cannabis industry voices, hosted by NJCBA leadership. Open to members and the general public; video archive hosted on NJCBA's YouTube channel.
• NJCBA Networking Events In-person and virtual networking events including monthly gatherings, B2B networking events ($35 members / $40 future members), supplier spotlight showcases, multi-day workshops, panel discussions, ribbon cuttings, and annual holiday parties. Held at venues across New Jersey including Atlantic City, Bergenfield, and Rutherford.
• Event Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship packages for NJCBA events including Lunch & Learn sponsorships, offering promotion to the 2,200+ listserv, dedicated social media posts to 9,500+ combined followers, recognition during webinars and on event pages, and logo placement in final videos.
• Committee Participation Program Member-only participation in policy development committees covering Marketing, Cultivation, Lab Testing, edibles, consumption lounges, hemp, and cannabinoids, allowing members to contribute expertise to NJCBA's policy positions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Promotion to listserv of 2,200+ individuals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minorities for Medical Marijuana – New Jersey (M4MM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021M4MM joined NJCBA's strategic alliance created in May 2021 to ensure minority representation in New Jersey's cannabis industry. M4MM is a 501c3 focused on advocacy, outreach, research, and training related to cannabis business, social reform, public policy, and health/wellness. The organization is committed to cultivating a culturally inclusive environment with four pillars: health equity, social equity, social justice, and public policy & legislation.
• Camden Business AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NJCBA Strategic Alliance working to expand collaboration with minority business organizations and ensure minority entrepreneurs are represented in New Jersey's cannabis industry.
• Essex County Latino Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance partner focused on ensuring Latino business representation in New Jersey's cannabis industry.
• Gloucester County NAACPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance partner working to ensure African American representation and civil rights protections in New Jersey's emerging cannabis industry.
• New Jersey State Chapter of the NAACPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance partner advocating for social justice and minority participation in the legal cannabis economy.
• Salvation & Social JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance partner focused on social justice advocacy and ensuring equitable participation in New Jersey's cannabis industry.
• Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance partner ensuring Hispanic business community representation in New Jersey's cannabis industry.
• World InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides NJCBA Health Plan offered as a benefit to Start-Up tier members and above. Partnership provides exclusive insurance rates for members.
• CareersInCannabisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCareer platform powering NJCBA's job board, directing job seekers to cannabis industry opportunities and supporting workforce development.
• Rutgers Law SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJCBA partnered with Rutgers Law School which developed a Certificate in Cannabis Law and Business program. Rutgers Law has offered marijuana law classes since 2018. NJCBA helped connect the program with industry experts for curriculum development.
• Sprague EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy supplier partner offering cannabis-specific energy solutions including electricity rate negotiation and energy audits. Sprague operates as an energy broker shopping the market on behalf of cannabis operators.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association: MassCBA is a Massachusetts state-level cannabis trade association serving cultivators, retailers, and ancillary businesses with policy advocacy and industry networking. It is a direct peer to NJCBA with comparable mission, member composition, and revenue model (membership dues), serving another Northeastern adult-use legal market.
• California Cannabis Industry Association: CCIA is a state-level cannabis trade association serving California's licensed operators and ancillary businesses with advocacy, networking, and policy engagement. It is the closest direct peer to NJCBA in terms of mission, member composition (cultivators, retailers, ancillary), and tiered membership model, but at much larger scale given California's market size.
• Michigan Cannabis Industry Association: MICIA is a Michigan-based cannabis industry trade association advocating for licensed operators and ancillary service providers. It is a directly comparable state trade association peer to NJCBA, serving a similarly structured adult-use legal market with comparable member composition and advocacy priorities.
• Cannabis Association of New York: CANY is a New York state-level cannabis trade association representing operators and ancillary businesses with advocacy and networking services. It is a directly comparable state trade association peer to NJCBA, operating in an adjacent Northeast adult-use market with similar regulatory framework and member profiles.
• Oregon Cannabis Association: Oregon Cannabis Association is a state-level trade association representing Oregon cannabis licensees and ancillary businesses through advocacy and education. It is a direct state-level peer to NJCBA, sharing the trade association model, tiered membership, and policy-engagement focus, though serving a more mature West Coast market.

Emerging players

• Minority Cannabis Business Association: MCBA is a national membership organization advancing minority participation in the legal cannabis industry through advocacy, education, and supplier diversity programs. It overlaps with NJCBA's social equity alliance work via Minorities for Medical Marijuana – NJ, and represents an emerging parallel peer focused specifically on equity-focused cannabis business advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA): NCIA is the largest national cannabis trade association in the U.S., offering advocacy, networking, and policy engagement for cannabis operators and ancillary businesses. As a national-scale peer, it competes for ancillary members (legal, financial, technology) that NJCBA also serves, but with broader federal-level scope rather than NJ-only focus.
• NORML: NORML is a long-established national cannabis policy reform organization focused on legalization advocacy and consumer rights. While primarily a reform/advocacy organization rather than a trade association, it operates in an adjacent advocacy space and competes for the same political influence on cannabis policy at the state and federal levels as NJCBA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/njcannabusiness
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCO3x0btatqdpOtXKWSp25ew
• Facebookfacebook.com/newjerseycannabusiness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newjerseycannabusinessassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/newjerseycannabusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Jersey CannaBusiness Association