Safety of New Jersey ATC Vape Carts

Because of the recent issues regarding vaping, especially the use of thinners or other additives, there has been some concern raised about the short- and long-term safety of the NJ dispensary vape carts. I talked to some of the player's in New Jersey's medical marijuana program about this and here's what I got:

1. I talked to Annie at Breakwater. She said their cartridges are made of ethanol extracted ( with the ethanol removed) cannabis oil plus their house-derived terpenes and nothing else.
2. Bridgette, dispensary manager at Curaleaf, NJ said that their strain-specific vape carts use their CO2 cannabis oil plus natural terpenes. The only exception to this formulation is Curaleaf's 1:1 vape pens (equal amounts of THC and CBD) which have a small amount of MCT oil in them and use approved flavoring agents.
3. I communicated with the New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program assistant commissioner, Jeff Brown. He confirmed these are all the ingredients used in the vape carts and said all formulations must be reviewed and approved by the Dept. of Health and that they are subject to routine inspections.
4. The physical carts at Curaleaf are Jupiter CCELL carts. I believe, but need to verify, that these are also used by Breakwater. The CCELLs use a porous ceramic core to wick in the oil to the embedded heater. It is designed to work with thick oils which is why, I think, the NJ vape pens don't need the cutting agents/thinners that are concerning in black market vape carts. I am not an expert in this area but from what I have (briefly) read, this is the safest of all the vape cart technologies.
5. In most other states, vape carts are made by third-party companies without state oversight. Even if you buy them in a state dispensary they have not been regulated. New Jersey is, I think, the first state to impose strict regulations of the process and ingredients used to make vape carts. I can't say if they are absolutely safe, but they are probably as safe as you are going to find with our current knowledge. They are going to be far safer than you can find elsewhere.

That's all I've got

Peter Rosenfeld, CMMNJ

CMMNJ Meeting Agenda for Sept. 10, 2019

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda 
Lawrence Township Library, Room #3 
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM 

Approve August 2019 minutes. Discuss:

Applications for 24 new ATCs in NJ were due on 8/21 for Dispensaries and 8/22 for Cultivation & Vertically Integrated facilities. Good luck to the applicants.

NJ marijuana legalization bill (S2703/A4497), may yet get a legislative floor vote in the lame duck session. CMMNJ supports this legislation and asks for a home cultivation bill for patients to be introduced in 2020. Reach out to organizations and tell them to tell their members to support this bill! Otherwise, legalization will face more delays as a ballot question in Nov. 2020.

Drug Enforcement Administration’s announcement: it will begin processing applications to cultivate marijuana for research. Regulatory proposals and public comments come first. Hemp is no longer a controlled substance.

Upcoming Events: Podcast Trenton State House, 4th Thursday of each month, 11:11 am.
NORML Conference, Washington, D.C. September 8 -10, 2019.
Cannabis Career Fair, Stockton University Student Center, 9/13, 9-4 pm.
NJTV News: Cannabis Country: Balancing legalization, etc., 9/4, 8pm.
CAPITAL CITY AREA BLACK CAUCUS: "The Color of Cannabis: Challenges, Choices & Opportunities," MCCC Kerney Campus, Trenton, 9/11, 5–8 pm.
American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA), Cannabis Care 2019 Conference, Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans French Quarter, LA, 12/4-12/6/2019.
Garden State NORML Rally and Lobby Day, State House, Trenton, 9/23/19, 12 noon.
Ethics Seminar, Inspira Health Network, Centerton (NJ) Country Club, 10/17/19.

Recent events: Garden State NORML Rally And Lobby Day, State House, Trenton, 8/27.
“We All Die, And Marijuana Improves The Quality Of Life Of The Dying Like No Other Drug” Interview With Activist and Medical Marijuana Patient Ken Wolski
#JusticeforJawara: Bergen County is hoping to avoid civil litigation over a 2017 jail attack that left Jawara McIntosh with severe brain injuries.

Treasury report: Checking: $4002; PayPal: $2690.

CMMNJ’s free, public 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/
Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey: https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionforMedicalMJNJ/

CMMNJ blog: https://cmmnj.blogspot.com/

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

Monthly Public Meeting Minutes 
August 13, 2019

July 2019 minutes approved with date corrections.

NJ DOH’s Request for Applications (RFA) for 24 new ATCs in NJ, for up to 8 in the north, 8 in central NJ, 7 in the south, and 1 “at-large”; these include 5 for cultivation, 15 dispensaries, and 4 vertically integrated permits. Application forms posted; due on 8/21 (Dispensary) and 8/22 (Cultivation & Vertically Integrated). Pre-Application Webinar 8/2/19. CMMNJ’s proposed public/private partnership for the State of NJ to grow, process and distribute cannabis to all state institutions was discussed.

Gov. Murphy signed A5322 to allow hemp farming in NJ after registration with Dept. of Ag.

Change.org petition for Nobel Prize for Raphael Mechoulam supported.

Governor Murphy signed the medical marijuana expansion act, S20/A20 into law on 7/2/19, effective immediately. Includes: Patients may reduce doctor visits to 1X/year (patients c/o price gouging by MDs); increase limits to 3 ounces for all & unlimited in hospice; APNs & PA’s OK to recommend marijuana (when will this start?); edibles, tinctures, and sublinguals OK for all; patient protections; elimination of sales tax in 2022 (but added 2% tax); institutional caregivers; education; research; out-of-state ID cards honored, etc. Discussion about intricacies of law, LEO awareness, response of nursing homes, hospitals, physicians, assisted living facilities. Patients complain MDs refuse to discuss cannabis with their patients—documentation requested—who, what, when, where, why…

NJ marijuana legalization bill (S2703/A4497), may yet get a legislative floor vote in the lame duck session. Otherwise, legalization will be on the ballot in NJ in November 2020. Reach out to organizations and tell them to tell their members to support this bill!

N.J. Supreme Court takes case of funeral director fired for using medical marijuana; oral arguments?

Upcoming Events: Podcast Trenton State House, 4th Thursday of each month, 11:11 am.
WEEDSTOCK, DE NORML, 8/16 & 17. (Char has a couple passes.)
ACNA: “Pharmacologic Concepts of Cannabis Therapeutics” webinar 8/27/19, 6:30 -7:30 pm.
Garden State NORML Lobby Days, State House Annex, starting 8/27/19 & monthly; more info contact Char McKeithen, 609.351.5121.
NORML Conference, Washington, D.C. September 8 -10, 2019.
Cannabis Career Fair, Stockton University Student Center, 9/13/19, 9 am- 4 pm.
Ethics Seminar, Inspira Health Network, Centerton (NJ) Country Club, 10/17/19.

Recent events: 
“The Grassroots Cannabis Forum” Kennedy Park, Asbury Park, 7/6/19.
Everything Cannabis, Porta, 911 Kingsley St., Asbury Park, 7/10/19.
Medical Marijuana & Senior Citizens, Princeton Senior Resource Center, July 15.
Jawara McIntosh (Peter Tosh’s son) suffered brain injuries in Bergen Co. Jail after being incarcerated for a non-violent marijuana offense. Bergen Co. denies responsibility.

Treasury report: Checking: $4191; PayPal: $2690.

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.