CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for September 14, 2021

CMMNJ Zoom Meeting Agenda for September 14, 2021, at 7 pm 

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84409149862?pwd=MWVybDk0WFJ1ZFlid2pOTjZTVzl4QT09

Meeting ID: 844 0914 9862

Passcode: 447702

Agenda: 

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) adopted the initial set of regulations to govern the legal cannabis industry in NJ at the meeting on 8/19/21.

The approved rules address barriers to entry, including:

⦁ Prioritizing applications from certified minority-, women-, and disabled veteran-owned businesses, and from applicants in one of several designated Impact Zones or economically disadvantaged areas;

⦁ Flexible application requirements for microbusinesses (no more than 10 employees and premises of 2,500 square feet) and for conditional licenses;

⦁ Application fees as low as $100

Next, the CRC will examine distribution and delivery service businesses and prepare a Request for Application (RFA) process, to be published in NJ Register. Applications will have priority review, scoring, and approval for Social Equity Businesses, Diversely Owned Businesses, and Impact Zone Businesses. Regulators must pick a date for sales to launch within 180 days.

Social Equity Businesses: based on either economic need or having a criminal record from past marijuana-related offenses.

The kinds of personal-use cannabis business licenses that will be available: Authorized Activity 

Class 1 Cannabis Cultivator: Grow personal-use cannabis (cap on 37 cultivators for two years after February 22, 2021) 

Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer: Produce personal-use cannabis 

Class 3 Cannabis Wholesaler: Store, sell or otherwise transfer, personal-use cannabis items between cannabis cultivators, wholesalers, or retailers 

 Class 4 Cannabis Distributor: Transport cannabis items in bulk between cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, or retailers within the state of New Jersey  

Class 5 Cannabis Retailer: Purchase personal-use cannabis from licensed cultivators, manufacturers, or wholesalers and sell those items to consumers in a retail store 

Class 6 Cannabis Delivery: Transport a consumer’s purchases of personal-use cannabis and related supplies from the retailer to that consumer 

Conditional license: Begin building out operations for the cultivation, manufacture, dispensing, wholesale, distribution, or delivery of personal-use cannabis while working towards meeting the requirements for a cannabis cultivator, manufacturer, dispensary, wholesaler, distributor, or delivery license 

Summary of the CRC’s Initial Rules for the Personal-Use of Cannabis

Legal weed dispensaries banned in more than 70% of NJ towns. 

Trenton’s statement on passing Cannabis Ordinance. 

National Law Review: What Employers Need to Know

Cognitive Harmony Technologies (CHT) Response to The CRC Ruleset

ACLU-NJ: FAQ’s and analysis of marijuana regulations.

NJ Medicinal Marijuana/Cannabis Program: 

Insurance coverage bills for medical cannabis: Take action with NORML!

S3799 Allows costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO. Advanced through Senate Health Committee, referred to Senate Budget Committee. Identical bill, A5760 advanced out of Assembly Health Committee; referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee.

A1708 Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage for the medical use of cannabis under certain circumstances. Passed in Assembly Committees; in Senate Commerce Committee (S3406). Take action with NORML!

ATC’s will be able to include sales of personal use cannabis by submitting municipal approval and a certification to the CRC that they have adequate supply for their patients, and that it will not impact access for patients.

Cannabist ATC opened 8/16/21 adjacent to the Deptford Mall.

Curaleaf’s Bordentown ATC opened 8/27/21, NJ’s 22nd dispensary. 

Still no word on the 24 winning ATC applicants (5 cultivators, 15 dispensaries, and four vertical operators) from the 150 who applied in 2019.

Home cultivation for patients:

A5363/S3420 legalizes cultivation of eight medical cannabis plants.

S3407/A5435 legalizes cultivation of six plants for any NJ adult. 

S3582/A5552 legalizes cultivation of six plants for personal use, and 10 plants for medical use, by adults.

Sign the petition: Let Patients Grow NJ; Website: Let Patients Grow NJ #JeffsLaw.

NJ Office of Legislative Services (OLS): “There is currently no scheduled return for the legislature, but they will most likely return around October/November.” 

National: 

NORML: Federal: Senate Proposal To End Marijuana Criminalization

"Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act" CMMNJ Comments 

Senators Flooded with Input on Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill.

“The End of Sisley’s Challenge to the DEA” to reschedule marijuana. “So, 50 years of rescheduling petitions aren't enough to exhaust administrative remedies with DEA? A bottomless cesspool of bureaucratic excuses.” CA NORML

Upcoming Events: 

Black Cannabis Equity Initiative (BCEI) and the Capital City Area Black Caucus: “CHALLENGES, & OPPORTUNITIES IN TRENTON” 9/10/21, 3-5PM.

Weedstock, music festival to benefit Delaware NORML, Townsend, DE 9/17-18. (CMMNJ table.)

NJ Cannabis Insider Fall Conference, Carteret Performing Arts Center, Sept. 23. Purchase tickets.

“Medical Marijuana” Zoom meeting with Randi Goldberg’s “Straight Talk” 9/20/21, 11am-noon, Meeting ID: 865 307 0487; Passcode: Str8Talk.

NECANN: New Jersey Cannabis Convention, Showboat Hotel, Atlantic City, 10/2-3/21 Exhibit Hours: Sat: 11am to 5pm; Sun: 10am to 3pm. (CMMNJ table).

ACNA Annual Conference! Oct. 17- 19, 2021, Albuquerque, NM, Register here!

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) Sept. Newsletter & Policy Update

CANNADEMIX: Where Cannabis Meets the Community! Middlesex County College October 8, 2021, 3 – 9 PM; Tickets. (CMMNJ table)

Recent Events: 

The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association’s webinar series: NJCTA Seminar: Dispensary Operations with Ken Wolski.

American Cannabis Nurses Assn: “Cancer and Cannabis in 2021” 8/26/21.

Northeast Leaf Magazine, Sept. 2021: CANNABIS ACTIVIST KEN WOLSKI Inside the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) State Medical Marijuana Laws

Cannabis Laws Matter: How to get a New Jersey Micro-license: Part 1; Part 2.

Treasury report: 

Checking: $9655; PayPal: $2,614. 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 available, including wholesale prices. Will your store or dispensary display our colorful, all-hemp bracelets, so patrons can make donations to CMMNJ? We are deeply grateful for all support.

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.

Comments on the Proposed Regulations from the NJ Department of Health, Division of Medicinal Marijuana

Medical Marijuana patients greatly appreciate the obvious effort the personnel of the Department of Health (Department) expended in rescuing the Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) from the currently often cruel and counterproductive regulations.  Many regulations were designed to delay the program’s implementation and severely limit patient access.  The Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ) applauds the current proposal which resonates with a refreshing commitment to patient welfare.

CMMNJ’s intent is to seek to improve what is already an excellent proposal and far superior to the existing regulations.  We base our comments on years of listening to concerns raised by patients, information gained through other state programs and insights provided by our experts.  Based on the tenor of the regulatory proposal, we have every confidence that the Department will give full and fair consideration to our comments and concerns in the interests of benefitting patients, which we all agree is the purpose of this enactment.  We have provided what we trust are adequate rationales for each of our recommendations but would be pleased to answer any questions the Department may have.

In the Summary of the Department of Health’s Proposed Readoption with Amendments of N.J.A.C 8:64, the Department notes on page 4:

"P.L. 2015, c. 158 (approved November 9, 2015), at § 1, established N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.22, which requires those in charge of schools to establish policies for the administration of medicinal marijuana, by means other than smoking and inhalation, to students, if they are “qualifying patients” within the meaning of the Act, while they are on school grounds and buses, and at school-sponsored events. P.L. 2015, c. 158, § 2, established N.J.S.A. 30:6D-5b, which requires administrators of facilities offering services for persons with developmental disabilities to establish policies for the administration of medicinal marijuana to those persons, if they are facility clients and “qualifying patients” within the meaning of the Act, while they are on facility premises."

What is missing is an evaluation of how this law is working. How many patients in schools and facilities for the developmentally disabled qualify for medical marijuana?  How many of these patients are actually receiving medical marijuana as a result of this law? Are caregivers actually able to come to these facilities one or more times a day to administer medical marijuana to qualifying patients? Families of patients typically report that these patients are not getting the medical marijuana that they require in order to control their serious medical conditions (seizures, chronic pain, anxiety, etc.) Thus, the clear intent of this law is being frustrated by the inability of caregivers/family members to report to these facilities one or more times a day to administer medical marijuana. On the other hand, staff at these facilities are trained to safely administer and account for other controlled substances. The staff of these facilities should be empowered to administer medical marijuana as well, to relieve the families of this burden while meeting the needs of the patients, in compliance with the intent of the law.

In the Summary of the Department of Health’s Proposed Readoption with Amendments of N.J.A.C 8:64, the Department notes on page 6:

"On January 23, 2018, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No. 6 (EO 6), in which he directed the Department and the Board of Medical Examiners to “undertake a review of all aspects of New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, with a focus on ways to expand access to marijuana for medical purposes.”

The Department’s Executive Order 6 Report (Issued by Acting Commissioner Shereef Elnahal, M.D., M.B.A. on March 23, 2018) is clear and welcome. What is missing is the report from the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners (BME). Is this report forthcoming? On 7/3/18, CMMNJ sent an email to the BME asking them about their missing input from EO 6 and they have not had the courtesy to reply. CMMNJ certainly hopes they treat the governor with more respect. The EO 6 Report notes that:

“There are 523 MMP-approved physicians throughout the State (as of February 15, 2018), (while) only 79% are actively writing patient statements and treating patients.” 

There are approximately 28,000 physicians in New Jersey, so less than 2% of the total New Jersey physicians are participating in the MMP. This is an unacceptable level of physician participation in the MMP that the BME and the Department must address. Currently patients must search the Department web site for a physician to recommend marijuana for them. Typically, these physicians charge cash (usually over $100) for each visit as they contend that a patient’s health insurance does not cover medical marijuana. Additionally, patients are required to return to the participating physician every 30, 60 or 90 days for a renewal of the medical marijuana recommendation. This is an added and unnecessary expense for many of the New Jersey medical marijuana patients who already have to contend with the most expensive medical marijuana in the U.S. The Department is currently developing “Provider Education Program and Dosing Guidelines.” The Department notes that:

“With the expansion of authorized debilitating conditions, the Department recognizes the need to provide education and guidance to providers. To that end, the Department is exploring the creation of an education program for all physicians, with focus on the endocannabinoid system (ECS).” 

There are already a number of educational programs on the ECS that are approved for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for physicians. The Department should adopt one of these programs immediately, and require mandatory ECS education for all physicians in New Jersey who have prescription privileges as a condition of continued licensure in the state. A great many more people in New Jersey are going to be using marijuana in the near future and it is incumbent upon prescribers to be familiar with how marijuana works in conjunction with traditional therapies in controlling and managing health problems. Additionally, the Department should allow anyone in New Jersey who has prescription privileges, including Advance Practice Nurses, Physician’s Assistants, Dentists and Veterinarians, to recommend medical marijuana. Marijuana is part of mainstream medicine, despite the fact that 98% of New Jersey physicians have shown little or no interest in learning about the ECS, a system that interacts with all the other systems in the body and a system that may well play a role in all disease processes affecting humans and animals.

All References are to NJAC 8:64:

Sec. 2.2 “Application for registration as a qualifying patient”: (g) (Proposed) In recognition of the fact that New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and a total of 30 states now have medical marijuana laws, the Department shall recognize current, valid medical marijuana ID cards that are issued by any other state in the country, and these patients shall not be subject to criminal penalties for possession and use of marijuana that is consistent with New Jersey’s regulations.

Sec 2.5 “Physician certification…(c) A physician may issue multiple written instructions at one time authorizing the patient to receive a total of up to a 90-day supply.” This amounts to a needless expense for a number of patients who suffer from life-long debilitating medical conditions. It should be extended to allow for either a 6-month supply, or better still, left up to the authorizing physician in consultation with the patient to determine when a return visit is appropriate.

Sec 2.5 (a) 9: Requires that the physician educate the patient “on the lack of scientific consensus for the use of medical marijuana, its sedative properties, and the risk of addiction.”  The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (Act) stands in direct contradiction to this unwarranted requirement when it states:

“Modern medical research has discovered a beneficial use for marijuana in treating of alleviating the pain or other symptoms associated with certain debilitating medical conditions, as found by the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine in March 1999.”  (C.24:6I-2a)

Thus, the Act directly contradicts the required, disingenuous assertion. In recorded human history, there has never been a single fatality from the use of marijuana. It is impossible to fatally overdose on marijuana. Nor is the risk of addiction a major concern with marijuana. After stopping, less than 10 percent of users experience noticeable withdrawal symptoms even after heavy, long-term use of marijuana. These withdrawal symptoms, when noticed, are typically mild and include irritability and sleep disturbance. There are no serious withdrawal symptoms like those noted with alcohol (delirium tremens or DTs, seizures, death); heroin (flu-like symptoms); or nicotine (intense craving). The addiction potential for marijuana is about equivalent to that of caffeine. Let’s be clear that there is no lack of scientific consensus on the existence of the ECS, its role, and its importance in managing diseases, medical conditions and symptoms, at least among those who study the issue. What lack of consensus there is for the use of medical marijuana is a direct result of the federal government’s refusal to allow any large-scale clinical trials of marijuana. While there have been successful, small scale clinical trials of marijuana, the federal government continues to obstruct research into the benefits of medical marijuana. Thus, physicians in New Jersey are required to make a political statement about marijuana without a thorough explanation of why a lack of scientific consensus on medical marijuana exists. One might also argue that now, with 30 of 50 states having medical marijuana programs, there is indeed a consensus, scientific as well as popular, on the use and benefits of medical marijuana.

Sec. 3.4 (c): In comments, this limits caregiver to marijuana only from the ATC named on the registry ID card. This needs to be changed to allow flexibility for quick changes between ATCs, without the need for a new card. The reality is that caregivers report they can already change their ATC without getting a new ID card. Please note there is NO Sec. 3.4 in the published proposed Regulations (pages 51-52) (?)

Sec. 9.6: The Department wisely recommends no change to the “Alcohol and drug-free workplace policy” for ATCs, which includes, “1. The policy’s inapplicability if an employee, who is also a qualifying patient, fails the drug test solely because of the presence of marijuana in a confirmed positive test result.” Indeed, this workplace protection for medical marijuana patients should become the standard for all businesses in New Jersey. It makes no sense to penalize a patient in the workplace for using the very physician-recommended medication that, in many cases, allows that employee to participate in the workplace in the first place.

Sec. 10.12: Continues the prohibition on home delivery. This is unacceptable and must be eliminated and home delivery expressly permitted.

Sec. 11.4: Requires the ATCs to develop standards for documenting patient self-assessment. In order to ensure standardization, the Department should provide the standards and specifically a questionnaire.

Sec 13.4: Adopt “Patient Focused Certification” in order to bring national standards to every aspect of the MMP (testing, etc.) through Quality Assurance audits using the industry’s best technical experts: https://safeaccess2.org/patientfocusedcertification//

CMMNJ proposes the addition of patient/caregiver home cultivation under stringent controls:

(Proposed) Sec. 8:64-13.12 In recognition of the facts that there are an insufficient number of ATCs to serve the existing patients; and, there is a greatly expanding patient need for medical marijuana; and, the ATC prices for medical marijuana exceed what many patients can afford (as well as what the illegal market charges); and, the Act provides for patient access from ATCs but does not prohibit patient growing; and, there is a greater need for stringent control over growers for general consumption that are not necessary for individual patients growing for themselves; and, not all strains necessary for patients are available from ATCs when needed by the patients; and, the very act of cultivating medical marijuana may itself provide therapeutic benefit to patients; and, the majority of states that have medical marijuana programs in the country allow home cultivation by patients; and, in recognition of the fact that the state is moving toward legalization of marijuana for recreational use; now therefore, patients or their registered caregivers shall be allowed to apply to the Department for a permit to grow up to 6 marijuana plants on the conditions that follow.

Sec.8:64-13.12 a. A patient who qualifies for a MMP ID card shall provide a completed DOH self-grow application and pay a fee to the DOH of up to $60 to apply for the self-growing permit ($10 per plant). 
b. The DOH shall review the application, decide, and notify the applicant within 60 days whether it will or will not authorize a self-grow permit.  If the DOH grants a permit, it shall be expressly limited solely to the patient’s personal use and any other distribution shall subject the patient to any applicable penalties as well as withdrawal of the privilege and revocation of their patient registration.
c. The permit shall be effective for one year and shall limit the applicant to a maximum of 6 mature plants. Each plant shall bear a tag issued by the DOH that identifies the plant as legally permissible to law enforcement officers. Plants shall only be cultivated indoors in a room or area that can be locked.
d. The applicant shall apply for a renewal each year at least 60 but no more than 90 days before the permit is scheduled to expire. 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed medical marijuana regulations from the New Jersey Department of Health Division of Medicinal Marijuana.

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.
219 Woodside Ave.
Trenton, NJ 08618
609.394.2137
www.cmmnj.org

CMMNJ August 14, 2018 Meeting Agenda & July Minutes

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda 
Lawrence Township Library, Room #3 
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM

Approve July 2018 minutes. Discuss:

Six New Dispensaries To Expand Access to Medicinal Marijuana in NJ; applications are due 8/31/18. Successful applicants will be announced Nov. 1, 2018.

NJ Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Shereef Elnahal, M.D. conducted two grand rounds lectures in July with 300 physicians at NJ teaching hospitals to dispel myths and reduce stigma in the medical community.

NJ DOH MMP proposed regulations: Submit written comments by August 17, 2018, electronically or by regular mail postmarked by 8/17/18.

New Jersey's attorney general: adjournment of all marijuana cases in municipal courts until Sept.
Petition: Legalize home cultivation in NJ!
NJ.com poll: 80% say legalize it in NJ.
NJ cops toughest in nation for pot arrests: marijuana possession is 10.6 percent of all arrests

What will NJ legalization bill look like?
S830/A1348/A3819; A3581; A1557; S2703; S2702 (combination); medical marijuana expansion bills: S1955 (Jake Honig's Law) and several others.

Upcoming Events:
Medical Marijuana: Implications for the Disability Community: Wed., 8/8/18 Hilton Garden Inn, 800 US Highway 130, Hamilton, NJ 8:30 am to 10:30 am. $30 includes breakfast.

NJ DOH meeting for prospective ATC owners in NJ, Trenton War Memorial, 8/9/18 10 – 12 noon.

2018 Canna-Bash, Mill Hill Park, Trenton, September 8, 2018.

Recent events:
The Grassroots Cannabis Forum, Kennedy Park, Asbury Park 7/7/18.
“Medical Marijuana in New Jersey” Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch, 7/18/18.
“Green on the Mo'town Green,” 8/4/18, Morristown, NJ.
Newark Today: The Path To Legalization: July 19, Mayor Ras Baraka, State Senator Ron Rice
NJWeedman Victory Party/Joint Fundraising Party, Trenton, 8/5/18.

Treasury report: Checking: $4545; PayPal: $2642.

CMMNJ’s meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., 08648. All are welcome. (Meeting at the library does not imply Mercer County’s endorsement of our issue.)

More info:
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
(609) 394-2137
ohamkrw@aol.com
http://www.cmmnj.org

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

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

Monthly Public Meeting Minutes
July 12, 2018

June 2018 minutes approved. Discussion:

NJ DOH MMP proposed regulations: Submit written comments by August 17, 2018: Ed and Ken to work on CMMNJ response but input welcome from all.

NJ MMP has over 25,000 patients registered so far; Harmony ATC opened 6/18 in Secaucus, NJ. CMMNJ met with DOH Assistant Commissioner Jeff Brown; what states have marijuana co-ops? Send info to DOH.

DOH Newsletter Health Matters features NJ MMP.

No response from the BME to Gov. Murphy’s Executive Order #6 (email sent to BME 7/3): https://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/EO6Report_Final.pdf
Call in to OAG re: results of marijuana rescheduling hearings 4/19/18, Newark & 4/24/18 Trenton.
NJ Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee: CMMNJ testified in support of legalizing marijuana for adults in NJ on 3/5/18 and 4/21/18 and 5/12/18. Email sent 7/3 for results.

What will NJ legalization bill look like? S830/A1348/A3819; A3581; A1557; S2703; S2702 (combination); medical marijuana expansion bills: S1955 (Jake Honig law) and several others.

Recent events: Trenton Cannabis Meeting 6/6/18—radio interview with Jacque Pierre Howard; Trenton mayoral election, 6/12, won by Reed Gusciora, NJ’s legislative champion of marijuana reform.
Opioid Epidemic in NJ: Prevention and Harm Reduction, Douglass College 6/22/18.
Statehouse podcast on the anniversary of Cheryl Miller’s 2003 death, 6/7/18 at 1:11PM.
Roots of Us LLC interviewed Ken Wolski 7/2/18.

Treasury report: Checking: $3810; PayPal: $2642.
More info: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com http://www.cmmnj.org

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

July 10, 2018 Public Meeting Agenda & June Minutes

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda 
Lawrence Township Library, Room #3 
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM

Approve June 2018 minutes. Discuss:

NJ DOH MMP proposed regulations: Submit written comments by regular mail postmarked by 8/17/18, or electronically by 8/17/18 to http://www.nj.gov/health/legal/ecomments.shtml.

NJ MMP has over 25,000 patients registered so far; Harmony ATC opened 6/18 in Secaucus, NJ. CMMNJ met with DOH Asst.Commissioner Jeff Brown; DOH Newsletter Health Matters features NJ MMP.

No response from the BME to Gov. Murphy’s Executive Order #6 (email sent to BME 7/3). E.O. #6 Report: https://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/EO6Report_Final.pdf

Call in to OAG re: results of marijuana rescheduling hearings 4/19/18, Newark & 4/24/18 Trenton.

NJ Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee: CMMNJ testified in support of legalizing marijuana for adults in NJ on 3/5/18 and 4/21/18 and 5/12/18. Email sent 7/3 for results.

What will NJ legalization bill look like? S830/A1348/A3819; A3581; A1557; S2703; S2702 (combination) & medical marijuana expansion bills: S1955 (Jake Honig's Law) and several others.

Recent events: Trenton Cannabis Meeting 6/6/18—radio interview with Jacque Pierre Howard; New Trenton mayor, Reed Gusciora, is NJ’s legislative champion of marijuana reform.
Opioid Epidemic in NJ: Prevention and Harm Reduction, Douglass College 6/22/18.
Statehouse podcast on the anniversary of Cheryl Miller’s 2003 death, 6/7/18 at 1:11PM.
Roots of Us LLC interviewed Ken Wolski 7/2/18.

Upcoming Events:
The Grassroots Cannabis Forum, 7/7/18, Kennedy Park, Asbury Park 11-2:30 pm.
“Medical Marijuana in New Jersey” Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch, 7/18/18, 7 – 8 pm.
2018 Canna-Bash, Mill Hill Park, Trenton, August 18.
Morristown Green Event, 8/4/18, Morristown, NJ.

Treasury report: Checking: $3810; PayPal: $2642.

CMMNJ’s meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., 08648. All are welcome. (Meeting at the library does not imply Mercer County’s endorsement of our issue.)

More info: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com http://www.cmmnj.org
Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/

CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.
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Monthly Public Meeting Minutes 
June 12, 2018

May 2018 minutes approved. Discussion:

NJ Medical Marijuana Program adding over 100 patients/day; over 22,000 patients registered so far.

Marijuana rescheduling/descheduling hearings at OAG: 4/19/18 in Newark and 4/24/18 in Trenton. For CMMNJ testimony, click link. We still await summaries or other results of these hearings.

NJ Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee: CMMNJ testified in support of legalizing marijuana for adults in NJ on 3/5/18, 4/21/18, and 5/12/18. The federal STATES Act was introduced to require the federal government to respect the decisions of states on marijuana legalization.

NJ legalization bill in 2018 legislative session S830; medical marijuana expansion bill: S10, in addition to other bills recently introduced. Bills vary on what they would allow/provide for.

Political Prisoner Ed (NJWeedman) Forchion freed in retrial after spending over one year in jail!

Recent events: Global Marijuana Marches, 5/5/18 in NYC and 200 other cities.
Patients Out of Time conference, “Cannabis: Alleviates Pain, Treats Addiction” Jersey City, 5/10–12/18.
ASA Conference, “End Pain, Not Lives. Make Cannabis an Option,” Washington, D.C., 5/22-25/18.
Garden State Cannabis Consultants TV interview with Ken Wolski.

Upcoming Events: Trenton Cannabis Meeting 6/6/18; Trenton runoff election, 6/12.
“Medical Marijuana in New Jersey” Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch, 7/18/18, 7 – 8 pm.
Statehouse podcast on the anniversary of Cheryl Miller’s 2003 death, 6/7/18 at 1:11PM.
2018 Canna-Bash, Mill Hill Park, Trenton, August 18.
Opioid Epidemic in NJ: Prevention and Harm Reduction, Douglass College 6/22/18, 9 – 11 am.
Leo Bridgewater at Women Grow–Flemington, Lone Eagle Brewery, 6/7/18.
Women’s Cannabis Connection Picnic, last wknd in July, Cranbury.
Hemp Heals, July 28th.
Morristown Green Event, 8/4/18, Morristown, NJ.

Treasury report: Checking: $3545; PayPal: $2642.

More info: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com http://www.cmmnj.org

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

CMMNJ's Regulatory and Legislative Recommendations

Regulatory and Legislative Recommendations for the

New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP)

Regulatory Recommendations:

1. Allow any New Jersey licensed physician with prescription privileges to recommend medical marijuana;
2. Make the Physician Registry voluntary, to serve as a patient resource, not as a requirement for physician participation in the MMP;
3. Add to the MMP the 43 petitions that were recommended be approved by the Department of Health (DOH) Review Panel;
4. Allow additional qualifying conditions to be decided in the privacy of the prescriber-patient relationship;
5. Mandate education on the Endocannabinoid System for all healthcare professionals in NJ who have prescription privileges, based on anticipated expansion of qualifying conditions for marijuana therapy, and on anticipated legalization of adult use;
6. Have the DOH develop complete dosing and administration guidelines for standardized medical marijuana products (including information on expected effects, side effects, adverse effects, etc.); See: “Medicinal cannabis: Rational guidelines for dosing” https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/582a/efb5bfa326fdba0affc23e343151e02aa903.pdf
7. Allow edible medical marijuana products for qualified patients in all state institutions to improve care and reduce healthcare costs--allow institutional physicians to recommend, and nurses to administer, medical marijuana after appropriate training and then conduct case studies on patients receiving treatment;
8. Reschedule/deschedule marijuana in NJ (Director of Division of Consumer Affairs, Office of Attorney General);
9. Eliminate fee for caregiver ID card;
10. Evaluate effectiveness of mandated policies and procedures for the administration of medical marijuana at schools and facilities for the developmentally disabled throughout NJ, modify the policies as necessary, and extend these policies to include colleges and universities in NJ;
11. Eliminate the requirement for psychiatric clearance for minors and require only one MD to recommend medical marijuana for minors;
12. Cancel the 7% tax on medical marijuana which is in violation of the New Jersey Division of Taxation’s Technical Bulletin issued 2/16/10 that notes, “Effective October 1, 2005, all drugs for human use, including prescribed drugs and over-the-counter drugs are exempt from sales and use tax.”  http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/pubs/tb/tb63.pdf
13. Establish medical marijuana discounts for veterans.

Legislative Recommendations:

1. Increase the 2 ounce limit per patient per month (medical cannabis use is individualized for patient and medical condition, so there should be no upper limit to what a patient can have—dosage should be based on patient need and method(s) of administration);
2. Restore home cultivation of 6 (six) plants for qualified patients with a NJ MMP ID card (which was approved by the NJ Senate on 2/23/09);
3. Allow any licensed healthcare professional with prescription privileges to recommend medical marijuana, including Advanced Practice Nurses, Dentists, and Veterinarians;
4. Recognize out-of-state ID cards now that 30 states have medical marijuana programs including NY, PA, DE, etc.;
5. Allow patients to obtain medical marijuana from out-of-state, if necessary, while NJ increases supply to meet increased demand;
6. Decriminalize marijuana as soon as possible to protect potential medical patients from arrest and criminal charges for the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana;
7. Do not allow adult use (legalization) legislation to infringe on any current rights of medical marijuana patients;
8. Allow for the use of cannabis as a first line treatment rather than a treatment of last resort--amend CUMMA C.24:6I-3 Definition of “Debilitating medical condition” (1) delete “if resistant to conventional medical treatment”;
9. Pass into law S997 which requires registered qualifying patient's authorized use of medical marijuana to be considered equivalent to use of any other prescribed medication--this prohibits restrictions on patients receiving organ transplants based on marijuana use;
10. Include explicit employee workplace protections--pass into law A1838 which establishes protection from adverse employment action for authorized medical marijuana patients;
11. Pass A1856 "Children's Caregivers Act" which revises requirements for primary caregivers for medical marijuana patients who are minors;
12. Permit any edible form of marijuana for any age and establish dosage units for all forms (repeal prohibition on edibles for adults—only minors are currently allowed edibles);
13. Require initial and ongoing training for all state, county and local Law Enforcement Officers on the medical marijuana program (OAG Guidelines posted on the DOH website is not adequate training);
14. Adopt “Patient Focused Certification” in order to bring national standards to every aspect of the MMP (testing, etc.) through Quality Assurance audits using the industry’s best technical experts, (currently used in DE & MD): https://safeaccess2.org/patientfocusedcertification//

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
609.394.2137 www.cmmnj.org

February 23, 2018

NJ DOH Rules to Add Conditions that Qualify for Marijuana Therapy

SUBCHAPTER 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

8:64-5.1 Review cycle for accepting petitions for additional qualifying debilitating medical
condition

(a) The Commissioner shall take no action concerning the acceptance of petitions to approve other medical conditions or the treatment thereof as debilitating medical conditions pursuant to (b) below, before completing at least two annual reports required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:64-4.2.
1. The Department shall publish notice of an open period to accept petitions in the New Jersey Register.
(b) The process for review of petitions to approve other medical conditions or the treatment thereof as debilitating medical conditions pursuant to the definition at N.J.S.A. 24:6I-3 of “debilitating medical condition” at paragraph (5) shall include one review cycle each year, subject to (a) above.
(c) The beginning of each cycle shall be the first business day of the month.
(d) The Department shall accept petitions on the first business day of each cycle.
(e) The Department shall return to the petitioner a petition submitted in any month outside of the review cycle as not accepted for processing.

8:64-5.2 Panel to review petitions and make recommendations for identification and approval of additional debilitating medical conditions; membership; responsibilities

(a) The Commissioner shall appoint a review panel (panel) to make recommendations to the Commissioner regarding approval or denial of a petition submitted pursuant to this subchapter.
(b) The panel shall consist of not more than 15 health care professionals, among whom shall be:
1. The President of the Board of Medical Examiners or the President’s designee; and
2. Other physicians and non-physicians who are knowledgeable about the condition as to which the petition seeks approval;
i. Each physician appointed to the review panel shall be nationally board-certified in his or her area of specialty; and
3. At least three physicians appointed to the review panel shall have expertise in pain and symptom management.
(c) The majority of the panel shall be physicians.
(d) The Department shall convene the panel at least once per year to review petitions.
1. The panel may examine scientific and medical evidence and research pertaining to the petition, and may gather information, in person or in writing, from other parties knowledgeable about the addition of the debilitating medical conditions being considered.
2. The petitioner shall be given the opportunity to address the panel in person or by telephone.
3. The petitioner may request that his or her individual identifiable health information remain
confidential.
4. The Department shall provide staff support to the panel and other administrative support.
5. The meetings will be considered open public meetings.
(e) The panel shall make a written recommendation to the Commissioner regarding approval or denial of the addition of a qualifying debilitating medical condition.
1. A quorum of the panel shall concur with the recommendation in order to be considered a final recommendation of the panel.
i. For purposes of this subsection, a majority of the members appointed and serving on the panel constitute a quorum.

8:64-5.3 Addition of qualifying debilitating medical condition

(a) In order for the petition to be accepted for processing, the petitioner shall send a letter by
certified mail to the Medicinal Marijuana Program that contains the following information:
1. The extent to which the condition is generally accepted by the medical community and other experts as a valid, existing medical condition;
2. If one or more treatments of the condition, rather than the condition itself, are alleged to be the cause of the patient’s suffering, the extent to which the treatments causing suffering are generally accepted by the medical community and other experts as valid treatments for the condition;
3. The extent to which the condition itself and/or the treatments thereof cause severe suffering, such as severe and/or chronic pain, severe nausea and/or vomiting or otherwise severely impair the patient’s ability to carry on activities of daily living;
4. The availability of conventional medical therapies other than those that cause suffering to alleviate suffering caused by the condition and/or the treatment thereof;
5. The extent to which evidence that is generally accepted among the medical community and other experts supports a finding that the use of marijuana alleviates suffering caused by the condition and/or the treatment thereof; and
6. Letters of support from physicians or other licensed health care professionals knowledgeable about the condition.
(b) Upon review of materials submitted pursuant to (a) above, the Commissioner shall make a
final determination as to whether:
1. The petition is frivolous and, if so, to deny a petition without further review; or
2. The petition is bona fide and, if so, to accept the petition for further review.
(c) If the petition is accepted, the Department shall refer the written petition to the review panel established pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:64-5.2.
(d) Within 60 days of the receipt of the petition, the review panel shall consider the petition in view of the factors identified in (a) above and shall issue an initial written recommendation to the Commissioner as to whether:
1. The medical condition and/or the treatment thereof is/are debilitating;
2. Marijuana is more likely than not to have the potential to be beneficial to treat or alleviate the debilitation associated with the medical condition and/or the treatment thereof; and
3. Other matters that the panel recommends that the Commissioner consider that are relevant to the approval or the denial of the petition.
(e) Upon receipt of the panel’s recommendation, the Department shall:
1. Post the review panel’s recommendations on the Department’s website for 60-day public comment period;
2. Post notice of a public meeting no fewer than 10 days prior to the public meeting; and
3. Hold a public hearing within the 60-day public comment period.
(f) After the public hearing, the Department shall forward the comments made during the public
hearing to the review panel for its consideration.
1. If, based on a review of the comments, the panel determines substantive changes should be
made to its initial recommendation, the Commissioner shall deny the petition and the Department shall provide the petitioner with a copy of the initial recommendation and an explanation of the substantive changes and the petitioner may resubmit the petition to the Department at any time.
2. If, based on a review of the comments, the panel determines to recommend no changes to its initial recommendation, the initial recommendation shall be deemed a final recommendation and the Commissioner will make a final determination on the petition within 180 days of receipt of the petition.

8:64-5.4 Denial of a petition considered final agency action subject to judicial review

(a) If a condition in a petition is the same as, or is, as determined by the Commissioner, substantially similar to a condition of which the Commissioner has issued a previous determination denying approval as a debilitating medical condition pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:64-5.3, the Commissioner may deny the new petition unless new scientific research supporting the
request is brought forward.
(b) A decision of the Commissioner issued pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:64-5.3 or this section is a final agency decision, of which jurisdiction and venue for judicial review are vested in the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.

CMMNJ December 9, 2014 Meeting Agenda

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda 
Lawrence Township Library, Room #3
Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM

Approve October 2014 minutes (no November meeting).  Discuss:

“CMMNJ TV” began broadcasting from Princeton Community TV on 11/11/14.  Episodes run twice a week for two weeks--Tues., 10 pm & Fri., 10:30 am on Comcast Ch. 30 & Verizon FIOS Ch. 45.

Patient’s Handbook from CMMNJ coming soon.

CMMNJ awaits action on “Petition for Rulemaking,” requesting MMP regulatory changes, that DOH received 10/16/14.

Ed Forchion (NJWeedman) asks appeals court to agree NJ pot laws are racist and contradictory.

Election 2014: Alaska, Oregon, & Washington D.C. legalize marijuana.  Fla. medical falls short.

NJ bills: A3726 (PTSD); A3525/S2312 (MMP fix); S1896/A3094 (legalize); A218 (decrim).

Upcoming Events: Sabina Rose Memorial, Statehouse, Trenton, 12/2/14 at 11 am.
Cannabis Christmas Party & Poe Roast, Underground Arts, Philadelphia, 12/13/14 at 8 pm.
“Medical Marijuana: Myths & Medicine,” PA State Nurses Assn., 3/26/15 Millersville Univ.
Medical Marijuana patient Chris Donahue’s trial in Doylestown, PA.

Recent events: Legalize Marijuana Rally (NJ Cannabis Conference) in Trenton, 10/18/14; Jennie Stormes fled to Colorado (medical marijuana refugee) the next day, 10/19/14.  Thursday demonstrations at the Statehouse ended 11/20/14 for winter break—to resume in the spring.
Medical marijuana “Patients Panel” at Ramapo College, 11/13/14.
“Ignorance is No Excuse” tour distributes the MMP A.G. guidelines to local P.D.’s.
Central NORML NJ meeting at Firkin Tavern, Ewing, NJ 11/19 (3rd Wed. of the month), 7pm.

Treasury report: Checking: $3861; PayPal: $3626. CMMNJ is selling hand-rolled hemp bracelets/necklaces from Romania @ $3 each or 2/$5.

CMMNJ's meetings are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246.  All are welcome.  (Meeting at the library does not imply Mercer County’s endorsement of our issue.)

More info:  Ken Wolski, RN
(609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
http://www.cmmnj.org

Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/?fref=ts

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

Recent Media Coverage and Blogs:

Opinion: Legal marijuana use for adults - a smart idea
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/11/opinion_legal_marijuana_use_for_adults_would_be_a_smart_idea.html

Obstructionist Policies Prevent Successful Implementation of Medical Marijuana Program
http://www.ahherald.com/letters/18764-obstructionist-policies-prevent-successful-implementation-of-medical-marijuana-program

A call to action on medical marijuana: Letter
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/11/a_call_to_action_on_medical_marijuana_letter.html

Philly420: Cannabis candies for Trick-or-Treat? Unlikely
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Cannabis_candies_for_Trick-or-Treat_Unlikely.html

Rastafarian college student sues police over pot bust,
claims they profiled his dreadlocks
http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2014/11/rastafarian_college_sues_keansburg_police_claims_they_profiled_him_for_his_dreadlocks.html

Judge tosses out evidence in medical marijuana patient's possession case
http://www.nj.com/sussex-county/index.ssf/2014/11/judge_tosses_out_evidence_in_medical_marijuana_patients_possession_case.html

Updated: Employee who confronted Princeton over medical marijuana no longer employed by U.
http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2014/11/employee-who-confronted-princeton-over-medical-marijuana-use-no-longer-employed-by-u/

Princeton Univ. employee who protested medical marijuana ultimatum no longer works for school
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/11/princeton_university_fires_employee_seeking_to_smoke_medical_marijuana.html

NYC has come to its senses on marijuana. Will N.J.? (Editorial)
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/11/nyc_marijuana_policy.html

N.J. Weedman appealing sentence he already served,
contends state pot laws are racist
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/nj_weedman_contests_racist_contradictory_marijuana_laws_he_says_in_court_filing.html

New medical marijuana dispensary in Cranbury gets permit to grow
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/new_medical_marijuana_dispensary_in_cranbury_gets_permit_to_start_growing.html

Victory in fight to legalize marijuana
http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/victory-in-fight-to-legalize-marijuana-1.1141979

CMMNJ TV 1.14
https://vimeo.com/112526679?email_id=Y2xpcF90cmFuc2NvZGVkfGE4NWY1OThkZjg2NjBlMTIxY2FhYjk4ODk5OTc2NmEyNDc5fDIzOTE1ODF8MTQxNjYwMjYwM3w3NzAx&utm_campaign=7701&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complete-finished-20120100&utm_source=email

Legalization - What to Expect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mulahkAmoIQ&feature=youtu.be

Decarboxylation
http://skunkpharmresearch.com/decarboxylation/

Remembering Cheryl Miller
http://www.ladybud.com/2014/11/12/remembering-cheryl-miller-beloved-wife-and-friend-activist-and-inspiration/

ATC Meeting Rescheduled Due to Overcrowding

NJ.com reports that the medical marijuana meeting in Upper Freehold Township (UFT) scheduled for Thurs., 11/17/11 was canceled due to overcrowding. The crowd, both proponents and opponents, along with half a dozen state troopers and a slew of media, exceeded the 80-person capacity of the room.

The Township Committee, on the advice of its lawyer said the meeting would be rescheduled to the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at 7 PM, either at the local high school or the first aid squad building.

Breakwater Alternative Treatment Center has plans to locate its marijuana production facility on preserved farmland here. Concerns that neighbors voiced had to do with security and lower property values.

On the other hand, Ralph Gale, a farmer who lived right next door (next field?) to the proposed ATC had no trouble with it. Allentown resident Rachel Cotrino voiced strong support for the ATC being sited in her township. Also noted in the audience was outspoken medical marijuana advocate Don McGrath, whose property borders UFT. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patient Chuck Kwiatkowski came to say how marijuana is more effective than any other drug in allowing him to overcome the devastating symptoms of MS, and perform the simple activities of daily living. He spoke to the news media instead of the committee.

There is a lot of fear about marijuana that is caused by misinformation. The people who are opposed to the ATCs seem to believe that marijuana is a foreign and toxic substance that may soon be introduced into their township. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Monitoring the Future survey has shown, for the last thirty years in a row, that nearly all high school seniors in New Jersey have found marijuana “easy to get” or “fairly easy to get.” The only people who lack consistent and reliable access to marijuana are legitimate patients.

The security that is mandated by the State of New Jersey for these ATCs can best be described as “over-reactive.” It is far greater security than is required of pharmacies, liquor stores and bars, all of which carry far more dangerous and addicting drugs than marijuana.

The opposition’s concern about dropping property values is laughable, considering the collapse of the “housing bubble.” The ATC is regulated to be discreet, professional and secure.

Moreover, this opposition to a tightly regulated production facility for a medicinal herb is most cruel. It is certain to result in continued delay in bringing marijuana’s therapeutic relief to our state’s most desperately ill. It is certain to cause harm to patients.

The only question is why state officials won’t appear at these local meetings to allay the fears of the communities? Barring that, the state should finish the zoning rules it started in its extensive set of regulations and establish that ATCs may be permitted in any zone that allows pharmacies.

ACTION ALERT - Contact NJ legislators to support medical marijuana

National NORML has created a CAPWIZ so that NJ residents can easily contact their legislators. A pre-written letter created by Ken Wolski at CMMNJ is included.

Please take a moment to support realistic regulations for our medical marijuana program:

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=19491501


Thank you!