CMMNJ Monthly Meeting Agenda for November 12, 2024

  

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

Join Zoom Meeting: ID: 896 6228 3034    Passcode: 373075 Or, click: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89662283034?pwd=f3WDrlxBbEcOs9ZWA4HZsfkD5mOUs0.1

One tap mobile: (305) 224-1968, ID: 896 6228 3034#, Passcode: *373075# 

Find your local number 

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.

NJ CRC: Prepare for Institutional Caregivers Now

NJ CRC: Prepare for Institutional Caregivers Now

I am glad to hear that the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission's "Permitting and Licensing Committee" is leading policy discussions on implementing Institutional Caregivers. 

However, I disagree with the committee's finding that legal issues need to be resolved before further steps are taken.

Institutional Caregiver policy development and stakeholder engagement should currently be in process in anticipation of the resolution of legal concerns.

The federal Justice Department and its component agencies have been barred from interfering in state-legal medical marijuana programs under a congressional appropriations rider that’s been annually renewed for a decade. There are no legal issues that will not be overcome to permit Institutional Caregivers in healthcare facilities.

Institutional Caregivers will be allowed to come into healthcare facilities and administer to patients the medicinal cannabis that has been recommended for them by licensed physicians, and purchased from Alternative Treatment Centers in New Jersey. 

This will be the law in New Jersey. For healthcare facilities to forbid implementation of Institutional Caregivers will place them out of compliance with the law, needlessly jeopardizing the health and safety of patients who are in their care.

Policy development among healthcare facilities should be on-going. These policies must include documentation of medicinal cannabis that is administered to the patient, along with the inclusion on the Patient Care Plan of the patient’s status in the Medicinal Cannabis Program (MCP).

How can a facility be allowed to deprive a patient of a duly approved medicine they are already using? Healthcare facilities should be more concerned about the legal consequences of doing harm to patients by forbidding access to medication that has stabilized their conditions. Any other concerns about cannabis can be dealt with by having patients sign “Hold Harmless” agreements.

Moreover, the use of cannabis in healthcare facilities is an established fact in the U.S.

In 2021, California passed Ryan’s Law, which allows terminally ill patients who have a valid medical cannabis card, to use medical cannabis in a healthcare facility, even though cannabis is an illegal Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law.

The population of patients in New Jersey’s MCP is continually diminishing. This is partly because some of the sickest patients in the state--those currently in healthcare facilities-- are not allowed access to medical cannabis.

Institutional Caregivers will greatly expand the number of patients served, expand the success of this program, and improve patient care.

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
ohamkrw@aol.com

Oct. 30, 2024

CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for October 8, 2024

 

CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for October 8, 2024 at 7 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: ID: 846 0605 9419  Passcode: 424050 Or, click: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84606059419?pwd=Gkddgud9M97asAqFRyfRwywmjraXk3.1

One tap mobile: +1 (646) 931-3860 

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfxs7Efo3

Agenda: New Jersey Issues:

National Election Day, November 5, 2024: It matters that you vote! Elected officials need to know that cannabis consumers vote—it will encourage them to pay attention to our issue. CMMNJ cannot endorse any candidate for elected office. However, we can discuss the positions candidates stake out on any issue: 

Both Major-Party Presidential Candidates Signal Support for Cannabis Policy Reform: Where Trump and Harris Stand on Legalization

Following former President Trump’s announcement of support for a cannabis legalization ballot measure in Florida, Vice President Kamala Harris reminds voters that while in office, Trump “took marijuana reform backwards.” 

Kamala Harris: “We Need to Legalize” Cannabis, VP Says For First Time

Americans for Safe Access has launched The Compassionate Candidate Campaign to amplify patient voices. This initiative provides candidates a platform to learn about patients’ needs and to showcase their support!

NJ Gov. Murphy signed Bill A 4461 to limit the manufacture and sale of hemp products to those licensed by the NJ CRC. The law will allow infused beverages to be sold by liquor stores regulated by the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, after regulations are finalized. Intoxicating hemp products — including the THC seltzers — must be pulled off shelves in the next 30 days (mid-Oct.) New law Spurs Lawsuit by Hemp Businesses. NJ Cannabis Insider report.

The NJ Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee held a hearing on town cannabis problems. NJ has “a model that has lifted up racial and social equity…better than any other state in the nation,” NJCBA General Counsel Bill Caruso said. But “It is downright difficult to operate a profitable business in the cannabis industry. It takes significant financial investment,” NJCTA E.D. Todd Johnson said. Most small businesses fail within 10 years.

Gov. Murphy said $14.5 Million in new financial grants raised from cannabis tax revenue will go to New Jersey Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) Programs to address harms caused by the War on Drugs. 

Ken’s Trenton Times LTE: “Allow medical cannabis in health care facilities.”  Sen. Timberlake’s bill S3332  creates a 5-year pilot program to use medicinal cannabis in university hospitals to evaluate its efficacy in improving patient outcomes; do research, and spark innovation in medicinal cannabis. Kemani A. Scott, Director of Policy & Legislation, Office of Senator Troy Singleton.

Ignorance Is No Excuse with Gary George

Study: Medical Marijuana Users Report Significant Short-Term Health Benefits

Please subscribe to CMMNJ’s YouTube channel—we need 50 for greater access!

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

Next CRC meeting: Thursday, October 17, 11 a.m.

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

Register to speak by October 15th at 5 p.m. Submit comments in writing to the CRC here by October 18th at 5 p.m.

Gov. Murphy replaced NJ CRC Commissioner Charles Barker with Amelia Mapp.

NJ CRC Virtual Roundtable - An invitation is required to attend. 

• September 25, Public Engagement and Education Committee (Number of ATCs);
• October 1, Permitting and Licensing Committee (Institutional Caregivers)

Federal Drug Policy Reform: 

The DEA will hold an administrative law hearing on marijuana’s scheduling on December 2, 2024. 

DEA Acknowledges New Two-Step Test For Marijuana’s Accepted Medical Use Is Legitimate; DOJ’s OLC: the prior five-part test was “impermissibly narrow.”

Reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III drug only exacerbates a bad situation. It embeds it in the deeply flawed American pharmaceutical system and ignores the cultural and spiritual practices that have long been part of cannabis use. 

NY Times: Nixon Started the War on Drugs. Privately, He Said Pot Was ‘Not Particularly Dangerous.’

A committee from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) called for a public health approach with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) taking a larger role in cannabis policy. An estimated 18 million Americans use marijuana daily or near-daily, more than the number who drink alcohol that often.

MPP: Federal Marijuana Policy and pending legislation.

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.

Recent Events: 

NJ Cannabis Conference 2024: NECANN   9/6-7, Atlantic City, CMMNJ booth. 
Happy Wellness Expo! 9/8/24, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ. 
420 Expo 1st NJ Legal Cannabis Cup, Edison, Sept. 13-15, 2024. CMMNJ table.
Ewing Community Fest 2024, TCNJ, 9/21/24; CMMNJ table!

Treasury report: 

Checking: $10,521; 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.

CMMNJ Monthly Public Zoom Meeting for September 10, 2024

 

CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for September 10, 2024 at 7 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: ID: 828 4494 9196  Passcode: 442216 Or, click: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82844949196?pwd=fjj3Qfrh6o5owgbCabrpqea67biXzn.1

One tap mobile: 1 (309) 205-3325

Agenda: New Jersey Issues:

Forbes: Here’s How Home Growing Solves Some Of The Challenges Of Cannabis: safety, self-sufficiency, and the avoiding inflated, fake THC lab results. It also provides the ability to rule out traces of potentially harmful chemicals and provides an intimate connection with the plant. 

Sativa Cross: Why Are We Still Waiting? For home cultivation in NJ

NJ Home Grow website

NORML Action Alert: New Jersey: Allow Patients to Grow Their Own Medicine

S2283: Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act passed the Senate Health Committee on 6/6/24 but it was amended to focus on tightly regulated therapeutic access, eliminating home cultivation. The bill is in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. A3852, the identical Assembly bill, passed the Assembly Health Committee on 6/17/24. 

A 4461 will have the NJCRC regulate Delta-8 and other hemp-derived products. Delta-8 hemp drinks should be sold in licensed dispensaries only. “Keeping the regulation of these products within the CRC's purview is essential.” Cannabis license holders are mandated to be pro-union. Substitute S3235 passed the Senate and Assembly 6/28/24. Gov. Murphy can line-item veto. 

Doctors for Drug Policy Reform Presents, “The Farm Bill, Hemp-derived Minor Cannabinoids, and Regulatory Mayhem,” 9/25/24 at 7 pm.

S3484: Provides health care practitioners discretion to determine which medical conditions could qualify patients for use of medical cannabis. Introduced by Sen. Troy Singleton on 6/24/24 and referred to Senate Health Committee.

CMMNJ Website is still unavailable as we transition out of GoDaddy. Are there volunteers who can be part of the “CMMNJ Tech Team” to help with websites, blogs, social media, streaming, video, and/or audio? Text Nick Mellis @ 609.331.9304. Update from Brian Belanger. 

Please subscribe to CMMNJ’s YouTube channel—we need 50 for greater access!

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

Next CRC meeting: Thursday, September 19, 11 a.m. Location: 44 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton NJ 

Watch on YouTube; Register to speak here by September 17th at 5 p.m.

You may also submit comments in writing to the CRC here. The deadline to submit written comments on the September 19th agenda is September 20th at 5 p.m.

NJ CRC Virtual Roundtable - September 5, 2024, 11 a.m. via Zoom.

Product Safety, Packaging, and Labeling Committee wants to hear from you on key issues related to cannabis regulation and the cannabis industry in New Jersey.

• Are the current allotments and purchase limits reasonable?
• How do allotments, purchase limits, and other factors affect pricing?

An invitation is required to attend: submit a request here.

Upcoming NJ CRC Virtual Roundtables: (Register here)

• September 23, 11 a.m. - Permitting and Licensing Committee (Institutional Caregivers)
• September 25, 11 a.m. - Public Engagement and Education Committee (Number of ATCs)
• October 1, 11 a.m. - Permitting and Licensing Committee (Institutional Caregivers)

Federal Drug Policy Reform: 

The Administrator of the DEA will hold an administrative law hearing on marijuana’s scheduling under the federal CSA on December 2, 2024 so that the DEA can get “factual evidence and expert opinion regarding” marijuana’s transfer to Schedule III of the CSA. “Advocates should remain optimistic that the end to marijuana’s Schedule I status likely.” Paul Armentano, NORML

CMMNJ’s medical cannabis ongoing goals (NJ Legislature returns 9/12/24):

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 (note new bill numbers for 2024 - 2025 legislative session):
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: 

New Jersey Cannabis Conference 2024: NECANN: Explore the booming cannabis industry at NECANN's NJ Cannabis Convention, Sept 6-7, 2024, in Atlantic City. Visit the CMMNJ booth #942!

Happy Wellness Expo! Sunday, September 8, 2024, 10am - 5pm; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ 07940. Wellness activities--from yoga sessions to mindfulness workshops. Over 200 vendors. Ken’s presentation, “Seniors and Medical Marijuana” starts at 11 am. General admission $10. 

420 Expo Cannabis Convention for consumers is holding the 1st legal NJ cannabis cup this year in Edison, at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Sept. 13-15, 2024.

Ewing Community Fest 2024 at The College of New Jersey on Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10 am to 4 pm. Volunteer at the CMMNJ table!

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM): Upcoming events. 

Treasury report: 

Checking: $10,468; 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 websites, blogs, social media, streaming, video, and audio. 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.

CMMNJ Upcoming Events and Issues

 

CMMNJ Upcoming Events and Issues

No CMMNJ Zoom Meeting in August, 2024
Enjoy your summer vacation!
The next CMMNJ Zoom meeting will be on September 10, 2024, 7 - 9 pm

Upcoming New Jersey Events with CMMNJ:

Shore Grow Hydro Our 5th Annual Patient Aid Fundraiser, Sunday, August 11, 2024, 1pm-4pm, Raffles, Good times. 1710 Rt 35, Oakhurst, NJ, 07755, (732) 531-7600, doug@shoregrow.com, https://shoregrow.com/

NECANN: New Jersey Cannabis Conference 2024: Explore the booming cannabis industry at NECANN's NJ Cannabis Convention, Sept 6-7, 2024, in Atlantic City. Grow your network, grow your business. Visit the CMMNJ booth!

Happy Wellness Expo! Sunday, September 8, 2024, 10am - 5pm, Fairleigh Dickinson University Madison, NJ 07940, Join us for a day filled with wellness activities and happiness vibes. From yoga sessions to mindfulness workshops, there's something for everyone. Over 200 vendors. Ken’s presentation, “Seniors and Medical Marijuana” starts at 11 am. General admission $10. 

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM): Membership meeting with Martez Knox, founder of BakedBot AI, on the Power of AI in Cannabis Marketing on August 13, 2024, 7:00 P.M. Zoom. Other Upcoming Events.

The CMMNJ Website is still unavailable as we transition out of GoDaddy. Are there volunteers who are interested in being part of the “CMMNJ Tech Team” to help with websites, blogs, social media, streaming, video, and audio? Text Nick Mellis @ 609.331.9304 - to schedule a talk. 

Please subscribe to CMMNJ’s YouTube channel—we need 50 for greater access!

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

Next meeting: Thursday, September 19, 11 a.m. Location: 44 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton NJ.

Watch on YouTube

Register to speak here. The deadline to register to speak at the September 19th meeting will be September 17th at 5 p.m. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, comments will be limited to three minutes per person.

You may also submit comments in writing to the CRC here. The deadline to submit written comments on the September 19th agenda is September 20th at 5 p.m.

CRC: Find a Dispensary in NJ. 

Insects and human hair found in NJ cannabis product. State just recalled it.

S3484: Provides health care practitioners discretion to determine which medical conditions could qualify patients for use of medical cannabis. Introduced by Sen. Troy Singleton on 6/24/24 and referred to Senate Health Committee.

Federal Drug Policy Reform:

The federal government may classify cannabis as a lower-risk drug. Supporters of "rescheduling" include Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey.

CMMNJ’s medical cannabis goals:

Insurance bills (note new bill numbers for 2024 - 2025 legislative session):

• 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 (note new bill numbers for 2024 - 2025 legislative session):
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.

In 2023 CMMNJ's Board voted to endorse psychedelic research and the safe use of psychedelics. 

Treasury report: 

Checking: $9,938. 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 websites, blogs, social media, streaming, video, and audio. 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.

CMMNJ Zoom Meeting Agenda for July 9, 2024

 

CMMNJ Monthly Public Zoom Meeting Agenda for July 9, 2024 at 7 pm

ZOOM Meeting ID: 830 7019 0783  Passcode: 325970 Or click: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83070190783?pwd=9Dd55h2am4Vb7aSUc0T3v7b2pBlW0K.1

One tap mobile (646) 931-3860; Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/koIAewUoG

Agenda: New Jersey Issues: 

CMMNJ’s NJ Cannabis Town Hall that was held on June 22nd at Raritan Valley Community College was very successful. Thanks to all who participated in the Panel Discussions, Cannabis Career Fair, and Expungement Clinics.

The NJ CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) hosted a webinar on cannabis home growing with State Senator Vin Gopal (D-11) and leading advocates.

S2283: Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act passed the Senate Health Committee on 6/6/24 but it was amended to tightly regulated therapeutic access, eliminating home cultivation. The bill is in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. A3852, the identical Assembly bill, passed the Assembly Health Committee on 6/17/24. There is no legislative activity scheduled for July 2024.

Bill A4461 will have the NJCRC regulate Delta-8 and other hemp-derived products. Susanna Short said that Delta hemp drinks should be sold in licensed dispensaries only. Guy Lardieri agreed: “Keeping the regulation of these products within the CRC's purview is essential.” Cannabis license holders are mandated to be pro-union. Scott Rudder declared, “We’re going to allow thousands of liquor stores to sell weed in their stores.” Substitute S3235 passed the Senate and Assembly 6/28/24. Gov. Murphy can line-item veto.

Juniper Lane Atlantic City, Colleen Begley's cannabis business, received from NJEDA a Cannabis Seed Equity grant of $150,000. “I spent my time fighting not just for legalization but (to) allow former felons like me to become licensed operators,” said Colleen, who served years in NJ’s prisons, including EMCF/Clinton, for marijuana violations. Susanna Puntel Short, a cannabis industry consultant, worked with Begley as a specialty coach in the NJEDA's Technical Assistance Program. 

IMPROVING ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS, By Ken Wolski, RN, New Jersey Nurse & Institute for Nursing Newsletter, June 2024, page 4.

Appellate Court denies relief for Steven Kadonsky. “Finally, we reject (his) fundamental fairness argument that we continue to punish him for conduct that is now recognized as legal. That argument is faulty. It is not legal today to operate a largescale unlicensed marijuana distribution network.”

Trenton’s proposed Ordinance makes it unlawful for any person to smoke cannabis in, or on, any public space, with fines from $250 to $1000 for any violation, unless a patient can show a Medicinal Cannabis ID card. Public comments are welcome on 7/11/24, 5:30 PM at the city council meeting. 

NORML Action Alert: New Jersey: Allow Patients to Grow Their Own Medicine

CMMNJ Website is still unavailable as we transition out of GoDaddy. Are there volunteers who are interested in being part of the “CMMNJ Tech Team” to help with websites, blogs, social media, streaming, video, and audio? Text Nick Mellis @ 609.331.9304 - TEXT ONLY to schedule a talk. 

Please subscribe to CMMNJ’s YouTube channel—we need 50 subscribers for greater access!

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

The next CRC meeting: July 18, 2024 at 11 a.m. at 44 S. Clinton Ave., Trenton. Register to speak by Thursday, July 16th at 5 p.m. Submit written comments by July 19th at 5 p.m.

Invited Testimony to the CRC 6/17/24: Recommendations to the CRC: Allow anyone with prescriptive privileges to recommend cannabis for any condition. Make healthcare facilities allow the use of medical cannabis by patients. Institutionalized patients qualify for medical cannabis; it could benefit them, and save operating expenses. NJ must require education on the Endocannabinoid System for all health care professionals as a condition for continued licensure in the state. “NJ has a unique opportunity to lead medical cannabis research,” M4MM Co-Director Gaetano Lardieri declared. 

S3484: Provides health care practitioners discretion to determine which medical conditions could qualify patients for use of medical cannabis. Introduced by Sen. Troy Singleton (Thank you!) on 6/24/24 and referred to Senate Health Committee. 

CRC: Find a Dispensary in NJ. Benzinga’s list of medical cannabis dispensaries.

Federal Drug Policy Reform: 

Self-reported daily or near daily cannabis use rose from 0.9 million people in 1992 to 17.7 million people 30 years later – a 15-fold increase in the per capita rate. “high-frequency cannabis use is now more commonly reported than is high-frequency drinking”.

“Rescheduling is a half-measure; DEA must deschedule marijuana,” M. Brennan

A prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) wants the DEA to extend the current public comment period for marijuana rescheduling. “It is a significant reversal of nearly a dozen prior agency decisions rejecting proposals to move marijuana out of Schedule I.”

Lawmakers need to recognize the perilous consequences of legalization.

Research Evaluates CBD as an Alternative Analgesic for Acute Dental Pain

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development won its bid to dismiss a civil suit challenging the denial of Section 8 housing benefits to medical marijuana users because the drug remains illegal under federal law, a federal court said.

CMMNJ’s post-legalization medical cannabis goals:

Insurance bills (note new bill numbers for 2024 - 2025 legislative session):

• 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 (note new bill numbers for 2024 - 2025 legislative session):
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, LLC plans another Patient Aid Day, 8/11/24, Noon to 4 pm. 1710 Rt. 35 Oakhurst, NJ; Shore Grow's 2024 Class Schedule.

Third Annual National Cannabis Patients’ Awareness Day, Trenton, 7/10/2024, 11:11 a.m.

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) Upcoming Events

Happy Wellness Expo, FDU, Madison, NJ, 9/8/24, 10 - 5 p.m.

NECANN NJ Cannabis Convention Fri, Sept 6 & Sat, Sept 7 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Treasury report: 

Checking: $10,077  

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 websites, blogs, social media, streaming, video, and audio. 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.

Rescheduling is a half-measure; the DEA must deschedule marijuana

The DEA must deschedule marijuana 

Dear Sir, 

The Biden Administration’s recent move to reconsider marijuana’s status as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is a step in the right direction, but it falls woefully short of what is needed. Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III is not enough. Instead, it is time to end the failed policy of criminalization and completely remove marijuana from the CSA’s drug schedules. 

Given the Biden Administration’s acknowledgment of the racially discriminatory enforcement of marijuana laws, any policy development that ignores these considerations is unjustifiable. President Biden has repeatedly promised to decriminalize marijuana. The DEA should not undermine this commitment by finalizing the proposed rule to reschedule marijuana under the CSA. It is imperative for the Biden Administration to fulfill this promise by taking decisive action to end and repair the harms of federal marijuana criminalization. 

The only way to truly end federal marijuana criminalization and its associated harms is to completely deschedule marijuana from the CSA. A new federal marijuana policy should prioritize public health and equity. It should aim to end unjust criminal consequences, restore rights and opportunities for those affected by marijuana criminalization, and ensure a diverse marketplace that protects small businesses and equity programs from large corporate monopolies. 

The current proposal to reschedule marijuana fails to address the core issues of federal marijuana criminalization. Rescheduling will not stop federal arrests for possession and use, nor will it free those imprisoned for marijuana-related offenses. It will not expunge previous marijuana arrests, end deportations, or remove immigration consequences stemming from marijuana activity. Moreover, it will not restore access to government benefits lost due to marijuana-related activities or bring state marijuana programs into compliance with federal law. 

 

Even for the marijuana industry, rescheduling to Schedule III is inadequate. While it would eliminate certain federal tax penalties for state-regulated marijuana businesses, it would not provide them with legal access to essential business services, nor is it likely to result in significant wage increases for workers or lower prices for patients and consumers. More importantly, rescheduling would continue the criminalization of personal possession, cultivation, use, and participation in state-legal marijuana businesses. 

The process of evaluating marijuana’s status under the CSA is also deeply flawed. The administrative review conducted by the FDA and DEA is limited in scope and fails to consider the racist origins and impacts of marijuana prohibition. These policies have had devastating social, economic, and public health consequences, particularly for Black and Latino communities, which continue to suffer from mass incarceration, inaccessible public housing, and denial of food assistance programs. 

Furthermore, the U.S. has played a significant role in enforcing marijuana prohibition globally, with devastating consequences. With changing domestic realities, the U.S. has a responsibility to repair the damage caused by prohibitionist policies and support systemic changes internationally. Active diplomacy at the United Nations and other international forums is essential to challenge the outdated global drug control regime.  

Rescheduling marijuana is a half-measure that fails to address the root problems. To achieve meaningful reform, the DEA must issue a new rule to deschedule marijuana from the CSA entirely. 

As often heard in circles of those recovered from needless suffering, “Half measures avail us nothing.” 

Thank you. 

 

Michael Brennan 

Member, Board of Directors 

Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc. 

219 Woodside Ave Trenton, NJ 08618 United States