The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission began accepting applications for marijuana dispensary licenses at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Nearly 200 applications had been received and processed as of 4 p.m.

This week, the state of New Jersey started accepting applications for recreational marijuana dispensary licenses. According to a press release, the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) received 172 applications before the conclusion of the business day.

According to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s statement, the first round of retail marijuana licenses will be distributed to “Social Equity Businesses, diversely-owned businesses, micro-businesses, and conditional license applicants.”

Governor Phil Murphy anticipated in late February that adult-use sales would begin in “weeks”.