CMMNJ Monthly Meeting Agenda for November 14, 2023 at 7 pm

 

CMMNJ Monthly Public Zoom Meeting Agenda for November 14, 2023 at 7 pm

ZOOM Meeting ID: 861 6377 7672  Passcode: 446701 Or, click: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86163777672?pwd=dEQ5TVRSd0pmQnFqTGMydXZaZG1zUT09

Agenda: 

New Jersey Issues: 

Ed “NJWeedman” Forchion won approval from the Trenton City Council to legally open "NJWeedman’s Dispensary LLC." Trenton City Council also approved "Astronaut Planet World."

Trenton's Cannabis Ordinance was recently amended: https://ecode360.com/documents/TR0722/public/752980139.pdf

Jersey City is suing the state in federal court in order to be able to screen and fire police officers for using marijuana off duty.

“You can’t use your marijuana in a hospital ... or a nursing home and these are some of the sickest patients who need medical marijuana the most,” said Wolski.

Hoboken’s first medical cannabis dispensary, Terrapin Care Station, has officially opened its doors to medical marijuana patients. “The Station” is the 14th dispensary in the Garden State to open exclusively to patients.

The second year of the Cannabis and Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton University is sprouting new ideas, and new plants.

No response from Gov. Murphy to many requests for patient home grow rights. Potential home grow charges/legal penalties in NJ. 

Corruption, backroom deals, local politics mire N.J.’s legal weed rollout, businesses say.

A Rutgers University student and medical marijuana patient was told she had to go off campus to medicate.  All school districts in NJ are required to have policies and procedures to allow for patients to use their cannabis on school grounds. Are colleges exempt?

Federal Drug Policy Reform: 

U.S. Census Bureau details the state revenue of marijuana tax money. Legal cannabis states had collected more than $5.7 billion in marijuana tax revenue over an 18-month period

Society of Cannabis Clinicians hosted its first annual medical cannabis conference at UCLA! Purchase the conference recording HERE.

Six former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) heads and five former White House drug czars voiced opposition to the recommendation to reschedule marijuana. 

Ohio: Issue 2, passed by voters on 11/7, will allow adults 21 years and older to grow, use, possess, and transport legally obtained marijuana. Polls show majority support among nearly every demographic group measured, including political party, gender, age, race, religion and education level.

Study: Cannabis Products Reduce Pain, Depression in Elderly Patients

Law enforcement officials made over a quarter million arrests for marijuana violations in 2022, according to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.

November 1 – 7 is National Medical Cannabis Week.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC): 

The next CRC meeting: Thursday, December 7, 2023 10 a.m. Location: 44 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton. Watch live on YouTube. Register to speak here. Submit comments in writing to the Commission here. 

CRC launched a new campaign to promote public health and safety around the state’s legalization law—an effort that, in part, will involve encouraging adults to use cannabis delivery services to mitigate the risk of impaired driving.

Edibles: CRC seeks public comment on rules for ingestible cannabis products. The comment period ends 12/15/23. Comment at njcrcgov.info/law.

Applications for wholesalers, distributors and delivery services will open up to all applicants on 3/27/24. Find a Dispensary in NJ.

CMMNJ’s 2023 medical cannabis goals:

• insurance coverage; 
• home cultivation rights; 
• hospital & institutional access; and 
• expanded qualifying conditions. 

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. 
• S309/A3511: Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage. 
• S782/A3932: Subsidize medical cannabis in Medicaid or NJ Family Care.

Home cultivation bills: Web site: https://www.letpatientsgrownj.com/

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

Hospital and Institutional Access: 

NJ patients in hospitals, nursing homes, state institutions, group homes and hospice are unable to access medical cannabis. Implement the Jake Honig law’s Institutional Caregivers to accomplish this! 

Expanded qualifying conditions: 

Qualifying for cannabis therapy should be allowed for any condition that a healthcare professional with prescription privileges determines is in the best interest of the patient.

Upcoming Events: 

⦁ NFBPA hosts League of Municipalities conference, Atlantic City, Nov. 13 – 16.  CannaCoverage Insurance and Guy Lardieri host “NJ Town Hall” on Cannabis and Psychedelics, Atlantic City, Nov. 17.

⦁ American Cannabis Nurses Association Webinar: Analyzing Research, 11/16/23, 12:00 pm ET

CMMNJ is always looking for community members to volunteer for CMMNJ tabling at events. If you are interested, email us at info@cmmnj.org

Treasury report: 

Checking: $10,758. 

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

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

More info: 

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com 

Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/

Website: Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey: https://www.cmmnj.org 

Twitter: @CMM_NJ

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

CMMNJ awards:

2021: NJ Governor's Jefferson Award in the Volunteer Group category;

2023: NJ State Governor's Volunteerism Award in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Champion for Justice Category "for extraordinary service to your community;"

2023: Ken Wolski won a Lifetime Achievement award;

2023: NJ Senate and Assembly Joint Legislative Resolution affirmed CMMNJ's importance as a "catalyst for the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana in the State" and paid “tribute to all who have contributed to its success and renown.”

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