CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for February 11, 2025 at 7 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: ID: 842 3542 0151 Passcode: 529650 Or, click:
One tap mobile: +1 305.224.1968; ID: 842 3542 0151# Passcode: *529650#
Agenda:
NJ Governor's race: Cannabis missing at first forum; Six Democrats took part: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Miki Sherrill, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, NJEA's Sean Spiller, and former NJ Senate President Steve Sweeny. The next debate is on 2/4 for the current Republican candidates.
NJ Office of the Attorney General: Your correspondence will be reviewed by the Office of Constituent Services. If you have not received a reply within 10 business days, to speak to an OCS representative, please call 609-984-5828:
“Please recognize that for some medical marijuana patients, homegrow is a necessity. It is a matter of survival for them, and it serves no public policy to prosecute such patients. New Jersey law enforcement officers should be advised not to arrest patients who have a modest homegrow, for example, in a plot that is less than, or equal to, 10 feet by 10 feet in area. It is essential to avoid burdening patients with a criminal record for an offense that will not exist in the foreseeable future.”
Legacy to Legal Cannabis Pathways Explored at Heady NJ Forum.
Guy Lardieri is hosting a series of talks on Psychedelics. His premiere podcast on TalkRadioNYC was 2/4/25 with Denise Rue - MA, MFA, MSW - Founder, New Jersey Psychedelics Therapy Association. See: The Happy Spot - A Therapist Insights and Perspective on Psychedelics
Chris Goldstein's survey of dispensary menus shows NJ's products are far more expensive than in Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York. .
Cannabis Research Institute, William Paterson University Webinars.
Love and the Endocannabinoid System
Cannabis: The Last Option No One Mentions: Ben Caplan, MD
Breakwater Treatment and Wellness, based in Cranbury, wants to begin selling legal weed to adult-use customers at their satellite dispensary in Roselle Park.
“Now that the state’s legal cannabis industry (is) doing $1 billion in yearly sales, it is time for Murphy to enhance his legacy by asking state Senate President Nick Scutari to advance S-1393, (the) bill to authorize home cultivation of medical-use cannabis.” LTE Neil Vincent Scheck, Belmar
Let Advanced Practice Nurses Recommend Medical Cannabis: NORML Petition (please sign)
End the Blockade on NJ Senate bill S1393: Homegrow petition (please sign)
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):
Next meeting: Thursday, March 6, 2025 will be virtual.
Growth, Equity, and Impact: NJ-CRC 2024 Year in Review
Current job opportunities with the NJ-CRC: Investigator Trainee.
There are reports that patients are waiting 1-2 months simply for the issuance of the digital patient ID card. Also there is the lack of clarity regarding patients with out-of-state medical ID cards. Is there any more info on this?
The CRC began accepting applications for Cannabis Consumption Areas on January 2nd from Social Equity and Economically Disadvantaged Area businesses only. On April 2nd, micro and diversely owned, and on July 2nd, from everyone else.
Federal Drug Policy Reform:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of HHS, says he will defer to the DEA on marijuana rescheduling if confirmed.
The new head of the DEA, Derek Maltz, who retired from the agency in 2014 after 28 years of service, claims that cannabis is a gateway drug and the rescheduling push is politically motivated. DEA has 10,000 employees.
Administrative hearings on the rescheduling proposal that were scheduled to begin on 1/21/25 have been delayed at least three months, with a DEA judge granting an appeal from pro-reform witnesses amid allegations of improper communications between DEA and rescheduling opponents.
Sen. Warren (D-MA) is urging Elon Musk, chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to target “unnecessary” federal enforcement against marijuana consumers and businesses as a key to reduce spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year by the federal government.
60 Minutes joined nine veterans to the west coast of Mexico for a psychedelic journey they hoped would finally help ease their pain.
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.
Psychedelic research and the safe use of psychedelics:A3852/S2283 "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"
Upcoming Events:
Educational event, Hub 13, Feb. 8th, 5 to 8 pm (afterparty 8-11) panels (financial literacy and home grow), seed/clone prep demonstrations, food drive, seed swap, favorite strain competition (legal/seeds), raffles, masseuse, dab bar (HFX featuring MPX), food available by Manja la Ganja.
Earth Day event/press conference at the Statehouse, 4/22/25(?). 4/20/25=Easter.
Health Summit, public cannabis education, S. Jersey, 8/2-3/25.
Elucidation Treasury report:
Checking: $9,550; PayPal: $888.
January 13, 2025
Jesse Marie Villars
Baked by the River
8 Church Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530Dear Jessie:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ), I would like to personally thank you for your very generous donation of $484. This includes $242 in donations raised from hemp bracelets in your store, and a $242 donation matched by Baked by the River. As CMMNJ is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, your donation is income tax deductible. All funds donated to CMMNJ are used to provide education about the medical benefits of marijuana/cannabis.
Your donation will aid CMMNJ in working towards our post-legalization goals, including:
- Home cultivation rights;
- Establishing insurance coverage for medical cannabis; and,
- Providing medical cannabis to qualified hospitalized and institutionalized residents.
With your support, we are confident that CMMNJ will achieve its mission of having safe and legal access to medical cannabis for all New Jersey residents who can benefit from this therapeutic agent. Greater access to cannabis will make New Jersey a healthier, wealthier, and safer state.
Thanks again, Jessie!
Fundraising ideas are always welcome. Hemp wristbands available!
or send a check to: CMMNJ, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618.
Or scan:
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 website being redesigned. 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.
