Tuesday, July 26, 2022

CMMNJ Zoom Meeting Agenda for August 9, 2022


CMMNJ Monthly Meeting Agenda for August 9, 2022 at 7 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: 

Meeting ID: 830 6097 3936 Passcode: 513706

Agenda: The NJ Legislature will return from its summer break in September. CMMNJ’s post legalization goals include:

Medical Cannabis Insurance Bills:

  • S313/A3248: Costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO. The bills passed Senate and Assembly Health Committees and were referred to the Senate Budget Committee and the Assembly Oversight Committee. OLS Fiscal Estimate is here.
  • S309: Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage. 
  • S782: Will subsidize medical cannabis in Medicaid or NJ Family Care.
Wolski said CMMNJ continues to push for “insurance coverage for medical patients…Insurance coverage would be a real game changer for patients. I mean, imagine paying a $15 co-pay for an ounce of marijuana," he said.

Home cultivation bills: 

  • S342/A997: Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis.
  • A1422: Legalizes possession of six marijuana plants for personal use.
  • A3657/S353: Legalizes six plants for personal use and 10 plants for medical.

Institutional access now!

NJ Disabled American Veteran and marijuana reform activist Dan Brady died in a South Jersey nursing home on 7/22/22, unable to access the medical cannabis he was entitled to as a hospice patient. He suffered needlessly, as did his family and friends, as a result. 

Psilocybin Legalization Bill: 

NJ Senate President Files Psilocybin Legalization Bill; CMMNJ Board of Directors endorsed Bill S2934, Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act.

National Issues:

On July 6, 2022, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker’s letter asked President Biden to end the federal ban on cannabis, and allow states to decide on legalizing the drug.

On 7/21/22, Sen. Booker introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act entirely.

Senate Confirms Dr. Shareef Elnahal as VA undersecretary of health. @ShereefElnahal: Marijuana needs to be descheduled at the federal level. Patients on #MedicalMarijuana deserve better. We are stuck with: 

  • Scant research funding 
  • Limited to no access in hospitals/nursing homes 
  • High costs for patients.

In a Gallup poll, a record 68% of Americans support legalizing cannabis, with 32% in opposition. (NJ’s numbers for the 11/20 ballot question to legalize cannabis—67% to 32%!) 

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC): 

CRC Meetings: July 28, Sept. 22, Oct. 20, and Dec. 8, all at 1 pm. 

The CRC Issued 81 new licenses that include 22 for cultivators, 11 for manufacturers and 48 for retailers. Find an adult use dispensary in NJ.

Trichome Analytical, NJ’s first accredited cannabis and hemp testing lab, won the state’s first annual testing license, License #TL000001, in the adult-use program. 

Five ATC’s fined $360K for selling to adult use customers during patient-only hours in NJ’s legal weed launch.

Ewing ATC, BLOC, opens with hopes of selling adult weed in the fall.

New Jersey labor unions are making real progress representing workers in legal cannabis sales.

Towns have the power to put justice in cannabis legalization — they must use it.

On July 1, NJ  state sales tax was eliminated for medical cannabis purchases. But municipalities may continue to charge a 2% tax on dispensary sales.

NORML News Releases.

International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines: IACM-Bulletin of 17 July 2022; latest research.

Travelling this summer? Which states accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards?

Upcoming Events: 

  • SHORE GROW Patient Aid fundraiser, 3329A Doris Ave., Ocean NJ, 8/20/22.
  • NE CANN, Atlantic City, 9/9&10/22;
  • 420 Expo, Edison, NJ, 9/16-18/22.
  • Delaware Weedstock, 9/30- 10/2.
  • Who can help CMMNJ table at the above events?
  • HeadyNJ: Cannabis Policy Discussion Hackensack, NJ 9/25, 1 – 5 pm 

Recent events: 

  • Cannabis Patient Awareness Day/NJ Cannabis Cup! Trenton, 7/10/22, 11 am.

Treasury report: 

Checking: $9,247; PayPal: $45. 

Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal to info@cmmnj.org, or send a check to: 

CMMNJ, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618.

Hemp bracelets are available for donations at Curaleaf’s NJ ATC’s!

More info: 

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