CMMNJ Monthly Meeting Agenda for November 12, 2024

  

CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for November 12, 2024  at 7 pm

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Agenda: 

National Election Day, November Bummer:

Massachusetts residents voted down a Ballot Question 4 that would have enacted a new law governing five psychedelic drugs: psilocybin and psilocin, mescaline, dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and ibogaine.

Florida Voters Reject Marijuana Legalization Ballot Measure While the measure got a clear majority of votes, it failed to achieve the 60 percent vote threshold needed to pass a constitutional amendment under state law.

North Dakota Voters Defeat Marijuana Legalization At The Ballot. ND voters also rejected a cannabis legalization proposal two years ago.

South Dakota Voters Reject Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative After Third Attempt From Advocates

Nebraska Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Legalization measures even as the two initiatives sit in legal limbo amid court challenges from opponents.

Arkansas voters won’t get to weigh in on a ballot initiative to expand medical marijuana after the state Supreme Court ruled the measure didn't fully explain what it would do, tossing out the initiative just two weeks before the election.

Where President-Elect Trump Stands on Marijuana Legalization

New Jersey Issues:

Stockton University in S. Jersey is the first NJ college to have a cannabis undergraduate degree, the B.S. in Hemp and Cannabis Business Management.

NE CANN Panel: Why Home Growing is Still a FELONY?! Part 1; 

Why Home Growing is Still a FELONY?! Part 2

Bud Bandit has gone from underground legacy to legal THCA smoke shop. Now, they want to open an adult-use cannabis dispensary in Trenton. “I had to go to (Trenton officials) to show them samples (and) lab reports.” Bud Bandit has an NJCRC conditional dispensary license still needs the city of Trenton OK.

Adults with chronic pain are significantly more supportive of expanding cannabis access than the physicians who treat them, according to Rutgers Health.  The study found broad support for education for doctors prescribing medical cannabis.

Most U.S. military veterans who have used psychedelics reported in a recent study that they pursued the substances for healing or spiritual exploration, and over 80% said they benefited from the experience. 

The NJ General Assembly unanimously passed Bill A3881 in September, to prohibit the dissemination of criminal history information for individuals with expunged records, including marijuana offenses. The Senate version, Bill S2513, passed the SLP Committee 10/21/2024 - Yes: 5; No: 0.

The long-awaited New Jersey Cannabis Training Academy (NJ-CTA) for entrepreneurs and professionals was launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Trenton. The NJ Cannabis Training Academy has 5 levels of classes that are available online now. The first three levels are available to the public.

Marijuana Use Is Tied To ‘Higher Prevalence Of Physical Activity,’ Contrary To ‘Lazy Stoner’ Stereotypes, New Study Shows

NJ Gov. Murphy signed Bill A 4461 to limit the manufacture and sale of hemp products to those licensed by the NJ CRC, but the hemp industry scored a significant victory when a NJ judge ruled that the state cannot enforce parts of a new law that treat out-of-state hemp products differently. The ruling came two days before an Oct. 12 deadline for businesses to remove hemp products such as CBD lotions, hemp-based drinks and delta-8 gummies from their shelves. The judge ruled that New Jersey cannot label a product as “intoxicating” and restrict its sale if it complies with the laws in the state where it was made.

The UFCW’s CannUnion Kickback party in West Berlin in South Jersey drew cannabis consumers, entrepreneurs, and activists for panels on psychedelics in mental health and homegrow legalization.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

Next CRC meeting: Thursday, December 12, 11 a.m.

Location: 44 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton NJ. Watch on YouTube. 

Register to speak by December 10thth at 5 p.m. Submit comments in writing to the CRC here by December 13th at 5 p.m.

CRC Delays Vote On Increasing Marijuana Social Equity Excise Fees (SEEF), that goes into effect on 1/1/25. The SEEF is $1.24 an ounce and it brought in $2.6 million in 2024, though no money has been spent so far. The SEEF can run up to $30 per ounce when the average price of cannabis (currently $330.68 an ounce) is between $250 and $350. “By extending the timeline to set the SEEF for 2025, we’re ensuring that our decision reflects an intentional and thoughtful commitment to community reinvestment and sustainable growth for New Jersey’s cannabis industry,” said CRC Chair Dianna Houenou.

NJ CRC: Prepare for Institutional Caregivers Now; CMMNJblogspot.com

Federal Drug Policy Reform: 

The U.S. DEA has contacted 25 “designated participants” to testify at a Dec. 2 hearing about marijuana rescheduling from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 before DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney II. Designated Participants must “come prepared with January-February 2025 availability dates.” 

Federal Appeals Court Schedules Oral Arguments for December 5 In Case Seeking To Overturn U.S. Marijuana Prohibition. Some groups argue that the government’s ongoing prohibition on marijuana is unconstitutional and “Congress has abandoned its goal of eradicating marijuana and has, in fact, expressly exempted it from federal enforcement in certain circumstances.” 

CMMNJ’s medical cannabis ongoing goals:

Insurance bills:

• S1944: Costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO. The bills passed both Health Committees and are in the Senate and Assembly Budget and Oversight Committees. 
• S1943/A4371: Requires workers’ compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage.
• A898/S2828: Subsidize medical cannabis in Medicaid or NJ Family Care.

Home cultivation bills:
Website: https://www.letpatientsgrownj.com/

• S1393/A846: Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis.
• A414: Legalizes possession of six marijuana plants for personal use.
• S1985: 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. Patient outcomes would improve, and health care costs would be reduced if these patients had access to medical cannabis.

Upcoming Events: 

Shore Grow, CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PARTY, NOV 10th 12- 4 pm, 1710 Rt. 35, Oakhurst, NJ 07755. Door prizes, Raffles, Music, and Food!

The 8th annual Thanksgiving Give Away & Sativa Cross podcast, with CMMNJ, at the Statehouse Annex on Nov. 28th, 9:00 till 1:00 pm. Please donate items for the poor.

Treasury report: 

Checking: $10,081; Fundraising ideas are always welcome.

Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal to info@cmmnj.org, 

or send a check to: CMMNJ, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618.

Or scan:

More info: 

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

Website: Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey: Join the “CMMNJ Tech Team” to help with website, etc. Text Nick Mellis @ 609.331.9304

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.