CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for March 9, 2021

CMMNJ Zoom Meeting Agenda for March 9, 2021 at 7 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86158471629?pwd=YmtaODRjVkpiUEZuakF1c0ZCbzY1UT09
Meeting ID: 861 5847 1629; Passcode: 146661

Agenda: Progress on NJ’s Constitutional Amendment to legalize adult use cannabis:

The three laws signed by Gov. Murphy on Feb. 22, 2021:

• Cannabis legalization (A 21), the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement, Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act, legalizes regulatory cannabis.
• Marijuana decriminalization (A 1897) of small amounts of marijuana and hashish; also establishes more lenient penalties for distribution.
• Cannabis use and possession penalties for individuals younger than 21 (S 3454) ends the involvement of minors with the criminal justice system over marijuana.

"As of this moment, New Jersey’s broken and indefensible marijuana laws which permanently stained the records of many residents and short-circuited their futures, and which disproportionately hurt communities of color and failed the meaning of justice at every level, social or otherwise — are no more,” Gov. Murphy said, upon signing the above three bills into law.

The NJ Attorney General’s Office issued guidance to law enforcement agencies following the enactment of the February 22 laws. (In 2018 NJ ranked third in the nation in total marijuana arrests and second in per capita arrests. The bill allows the adult use and possession of marijuana to take effect immediately.

 
Gov. Murphy made the final appointments to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) which will oversee the new adult cannabis market. The DOH’s Maria Del Cid and UFCW’s William Wallace join the ACLU NJ’s Dianna Houenou, DOH MMP’s Jeff Brown, ex-Marine Sam Delgado, and social worker Krista Nash on the CRC to develop the regulations to enact the laws.

ABOLISH THE DRUG WAR COALITION is a call to action to end the drug war. “We denounce the criminal justice approach to what should be a public health issue…The drug war in NJ is a war on Black and Brown communities.”

A1708/S3406 Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage for the medical use of cannabis, advanced out of committee 10/26/21

Home cultivation for patients:
Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R) introduced S3407, a bill that legalizes possession of six or fewer marijuana plants, shortly before he died--a deathbed Act of Contrition?

David Nathan of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation said home-grown marijuana should be allowed for patients who need a specific strain or for people who can’t afford the prices charged at dispensaries. There is a bipartisan medical home-grow bill written by Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington.
Sign the petition: Let Patients Grow NJ; Visit the website: Let Patients Grow NJ #JeffsLaw.

Court Cases:
State officials can restart the process of awarding licenses for two dozen medical marijuana dispensaries, after an appeals court Thursday lifted a 2019 order that halted the process when some rejected applicants objected.
NJWeedman’s lawsuit: U.S. District Judge for NJ will hear oral arguments on 3/8/21.

National: 

New Jersey becomes 15th US state to fully legalize marijuana
Americans for Safe Access “No Patient Left Behind” campaign to address issues patients face around the country regarding safe access to medical cannabis.
Blunts Not Batons: End police brutality by allowing LEOs to consume cannabis while off-duty. Allow cannabis in state prisons, county jails, and city jails.
Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said they would work together for comprehensive cannabis reform in Congress.

Upcoming Events:
Sativa Cross: Ignorance Is No Excuse Potcast Schedule
ASA National Medical Unity Conference, April 29 – 30, 2021: https://www.safeaccessnow.org/about_asa
International Medical Cannabis Patients Coalition Mtng, the 2nd of each month, 9 am, via Zoom.
The Rowan University Institute for Cannabis Research, Policy, and Workforce Development will encompass the business, law, medicine, chemistry, and pharmacology departments.
The Black Cannabis Equity Initiative (BCEI) and the CANNABIS INDUSTRY will hold a "SOCIAL EQUITY CANNABIS LEGALIZATION IN NJ ZOOM EVENT" March 17, from 3 – 5 pm.

Recent Events:
International Medical Cannabis Patients Coalition Meeting, 3/2/21 via Zoom.
Black Cannabis Equity Initiative (BCEI) & the Cannabis Industry: "SOCIAL EQUITY CANNABIS LEGALIZATION IN NJ ZOOM EVENT" 2/19/21.
Blazing Ahead Toward Cannabis Justice: An NJUMR Celebration.
ASCEND Montclair, NJ ATC, grand opening 2/22/21.

Treasury report: 

Checking: $5456; PayPal: $3251. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal to info@cmmnj.org, or send a check to: CMMNJ, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618.
Hemp wristbands are also available. 

Thanks, Debi Madaio & Edward Forchion, for letting people donate to CMMNJ at The Joint, across from City Hall in Trenton!

More info: 

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/
Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey: http://www.cmmnj.org
Twitter: @CMM_NJ
CMMNJ blog: https://cmmnj.blogspot.com/

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