CMMNJ Meeting Agenda for December 12, 2017

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda 
Lawrence Twp. Library, Rm. #1 
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 
7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM

Approve November 2017 minutes. Discuss:

Governor-elect Phil Murphy reaffirms plans to legalize marijuana in the first 100 days of 2018! Who is contacting whom in the new Administration about moving forward with advances for patient access and decriminalization/expungement? Gov. Christie finishes his second term at noon on Jan. 16.
NJ’s legalization bill (S3195): Facebook’s “Friends of CMMNJ” letter template in support of home cultivation, addressing concerns. Also, Press Conference at Artworks, Trenton, 12/7/17 at 4:00 pm.

The Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) Review Panel gave final approval to 43 petitions to add conditions (chronic pain, anxiety, migraines, and Tourette’s syndrome) to the MMP on 10/25/17. Now the DOH commissioner has 180 days to follow those recommendations. CUMMA amendments?

Marijuana Justice Act of 2017 (S1689): Congressional co-sponsors sought for Sen. Cory Booker’s federal bill. Take action: Capwiz from DPA and NORML.

Final 2017 Statehouse Podcast (100th) concluded with Thanksgiving Day lunch outside the Annex.

Political Prisoner Ed (NJWeedman) Forchion remains in jail awaiting retrial on hung jury charge.

Upcoming Events:
“CMMNJ TV” taping, Princeton TV studio, 1/18.
Patients Out of Time conference, Jersey City, NJ, May 10 – 12, 2018.
Recent Events: 5th year anniversary of medical marijuana availability in NJ—12/6/17.
Medical Cannabis Conference, Montego Bay Jamaica, Nov. 10 -15, 2017. Atecam.com

Treasury report: Checking: $3264; PayPal: $3292.

CMMNJ's meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., 08648. All are welcome. (Meeting at the library does not imply Mercer County’s endorsement of our issue.)

More info: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com http://www.cmmnj.org
Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/

CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.

Monthly Public Meeting Minutes 
November 14, 2017

3 Board members in attendance- 7 others.  Oct. 2017 minutes approved.

All Items on Agenda covered-Notes of discussions below.

Election- Despite new Gov’s intent to sign a legalization Bill quickly, it is doubtful that legal MJ will be available for a year because of details to be worked out in Regs.  However, activists can push for tangential issues that can be immediately implemented such as prohibiting any arrests for use, expunging all use arrests and those for supplying friends (i.e., all those not major dealers).

Also, provision must be made to support minority representation in gaining licenses to sell with reduced license fees in minority communities and eliminating any bar due to MJ arrest or those charges related thereto (resisting arrest, etc).

 As part of legalization we can advocate for patient growing for own use and other useful expansions of the CUMMA (my note and eliminating many of the unjust burdens like requiring Dr. registrations-esp with Trump admin.)  On growing we should emphasize it was in the original Bill and unjustly eliminated in secret.

Review Panel Approvals- Main point is that we know Gov. Christie is running out the clock so we need to quickly contact new Health Commissioner to immediately sign approval-we have contacts (e.g. Bill Caruso) to get us an inside track. I recommended contacting the DOH transition team. There is no need to delay for the full 180 days. This can be done the first day the new Commissioner takes over if we do advance planning.

Appellate Court action – despite the euphoria I pointed out that the court did not mandate a change only instructed the Director that he had the ability and he should review his position. This is wasted on a Christie appointee.  Again-we need to have the new Admin take Immediate action on this as a priority -even if just to help patients with issues such as use on school grounds.

Podcast last one for this year (and the 100th) is on Thanksgiving and it will provide food. Hoping for media coverage and food donations.
Brunch on Nov 18th at Studio B in Trenton (formerly Prayer Brunch-and no Al Sharpton) Cost is $25. There are speakers. 
Jason has contacts in the Senate majority office we can use.  Jim reported that Scutari dropped charges against Lefty Grimes in Linden and he and Joanne will do a Bergen County forum on Nov. 16th. 

Next Meeting should specify who is contacting whom in the new Admin about moving forward with advances for patient access and discuss specifics.
Treasury report: Checking: $3434; PayPal: $3122.

More info: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com http://www.cmmnj.org

CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.

Recent Media Coverage and Blogs:


With Phil Murphy's win, it's 'full steam ahead' for legal marijuana
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/11/hold_murphys_victory_is_the_first_step_toward_a_ma.html

Supporters Say Recreational Marijuana Could Be Legal In New Jersey By Next Summer Thanks To Murphy Win
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/supporters-say-recreational-marijuana-could-be-legal-in-new-jersey-by-next-summer/

Marijuana legalization gets support with Murphy's win
http://newjersey.news12.com/story/36798931/marijuana-legalization-gets-support-with-murphys-win

Bamboozled: Could these medical marijuana scams come to N.J.? You bet
http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2017/11/bamboozled_could_these_medical_marijuana_scams_com.html

Letter: Countering Ocean City Prosecutor's Stance On Marijuana
https://patch.com/new-jersey/oceancity/letter-countering-ocean-city-prosecutors-stance-marijuana

Princeton resident is new head New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association board
https://planetprinceton.com/2017/11/16/princeton-resident-is-new-head-new-jersey-cannabis-industry-association-board/

Time to reclassify N.J.'s relationship with marijuana
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/time-to-reclassify-n-j-s-relationship-with-marijuana/article_21a11f52-5558-5095-a2fa-07e680541983.html

Amid talk of legalizing marijuana, one expert says 'slow down'
http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/paramus/2017/11/16/amid-push-legal-marijuana-in-one-expert-says-slow-down/868289001/

ASA: Medical Cannabis Access for Pain Treatment
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/americansforsafeaccess/pages/8900/attachments/original/1470426683/Medical_Cannabis_Access_for_Pain_Treatment-_A_Viable_Strategy_to_Address_the_Opiod_Crisis_8-5-16__3_49.pdf?1470426683

Can Marijuana Alleviate the Opioid Crisis?
The federal government should stop blocking research into the drug’s medical potential.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-marijuana-alleviate-the-opioid-crisis-1511104543#comments_sector

Murphy's win boosts prospects for legal marijuana in New Jersey
http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2017/11/24/marijuana-could-coming-new-jersey/849505001/

High time to legalize recreational marijuana in NJ
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2017/11/cannabis-article

Smell of new business in the weed industry luring N.J. lawyers
http://www.nj.com/marijuana/2017/12/lawyers_prepare_for_business_boom_if_weed_is_legal.html

Legalize weed? We should not empower an industry that profits from addiction | Opinion
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/12/legalize_weed_we_should_not_empower_an_industry_that_profits_from_addiction_opinion.html

Ricardo Rivera of Tuffysfght.com
https://vimeo.com/245390762?utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749

New Jersey Should Legalize Marijuana
https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/drug-law-reform/new-jersey-should-legalize-marijuana

Will you be able to grow weed at home? Here's what we know about the N.J. pot bill
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/nj_marijuana_bill_could_soon_see_these_changes.html

Incoming NJ Gov. Murphy names head of cannabis trade group as chief of staff
http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/11/28/new-jersey-murphy-pete-cammarano/93376/

Murphy insists NJ will make marijuana legal — ‘We want to get this right’
http://nj1015.com/murphy-insists-nj-will-make-marijuana-legal-we-want-to-get-this-right/?trackback=tsmclip

NJ legal marijuana may also mean car insurance gets high
http://www.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2017/11/27/nj-legal-marijuana-may-also-mean-car-insurance-gets-high/897275001/

CMMNJ / Sativa Cross FINALE! Feeding Trenton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb2nh5rV3gU&feature=share

Rice on Marijuana Legalization: Proceed With Caution
http://www.njsendems.org/rice-on-marijuana-legalization-proceed-with-caution/

NJ panel OKs marijuana for more conditions
https://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2017/11/nj-panel-oks-marijuana-for-more.html


Medical marijuana patients fight stigma to find relief
http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/7b3d0ba8-7152-11e7-ae8b-d7baa80e197f.html

Legalized Recreational Marjuana In NJ Might Not Be Available Soon
http://wbgo.org/post/legalized-recreational-marjuana-nj-might-not-be-available-soon#stream/0

Sativa Cross .com Ignorance Is No Excuse Potcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shvq5nIRYmc&feature=youtu.be

CMMNJ PSA
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B72GooQ_L415SUhYcXBmS2xfckU/view?ts=59e9f6c7