CMMNJ Year End Report 2022

New Jersey Highlights of 2022

Cannabis legalization

Legal, adult use sales of cannabis began in New Jersey on 4/21/22!. The first month of sales (4/21/22 – 5/21/22) equaled $24M with 212,000 transactions. Cannabis is the No. 1 cash crop in NJ, and the 6th largest in the U.S. ($5B in 2022). NJ cannabis arrests plummet.

Governor Phil Murphy began his second term with an inauguration on January 18. “The main goals of our administration’s cannabis reform efforts have always been to promote social justice and reverse decades of disparate treatment of minority and low-income New Jerseyans because of the failed War on Drugs,” the governor said on 2/22/22, marking one year since he signed cannabis legalization laws in the state.

The tenth anniversary of legal sales of medical marijuana in New Jersey was on 12-6-22. The twelfth anniversary of New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act becoming law was on 1-18-22. In 2021, New Jersey became the 13th US state to fully legalize marijuana.

On July 1, NJ state sales tax was eliminated for medical cannabis purchases. But municipalities may continue to charge a 2% tax on dispensary sales.

January 11, 2022 marked the start of the new, two-year legislative session in New Jersey. All bills from the previous session that did not pass into law had to be re-introduced and given new numbers. These lawmakers will deal with the cannabis bills: Senate Chamber Seating and Assembly Chamber Seating.

CMMNJ’s medical cannabis goals include insurance coverage; home cultivation rights; hospital & institutional access; and expanded qualifying conditions.

Insurance Coverage for Medical Cannabis:

Medical Cannabis Insurance bills in the NJ legislature in 2022:

S313/A3248: 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.
S309/A3511: Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage.
S782/A3932: Subsidize medical cannabis in Medicaid or NJ Family Care.

The Senate Health Committee unanimously passed the Medical Cannabis Insurance bill S313 at its hearing on 3/10/22. See: CMMNJ’s testimony in support of S313.

Insurance coverage for medical cannabis will have profoundly positive effects. When passed into law, these bills will reduce healthcare costs in the state because cannabis stabilizes multiple conditions in individuals. Greater access to cannabis therapy will result in fewer hospitalizations, fewer surgical procedures, and fewer emergency room visits. It will greatly increase the number of patients who can use this therapeutic modality. Insurance coverage will lower healthcare costs in the state and will produce a healthier New Jersey.

Home Grow:

CMMNJ Board members continued to work for a home cultivation program throughout 2022. We encouraged NJ residents to urge their legislators to support these bills and conduct legislative hearings on them. By the end of the year, over 3,300 people had signed the petition: Let Patients Grow NJ. This campaign includes a web site, Let Patients Grow NJ #JeffsLaw.

The home grow bills in the NJ legislature in 2022 include:

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

Gov. Murphy said NJ should “revisit” criminalization of homegrown marijuana for personal use—but after the commercial market has matured

NJ’s bill subscription service allows you to create a list of bills, track legislative action & stay up to date on topics you care about.

Hospital and Institutional Access:

NJ patients in hospitals, nursing homes, state institutions, group homes and hospice are unable to access medical cannabis. NJ Disabled American Veteran and marijuana reform activist Dan Brady died in a South Jersey nursing home on 7/22/22, unable to access the medical cannabis he was entitled to as a hospice patient. He suffered needlessly, as did his family and friends, as a result. Patient outcomes would improve, and health care costs would be reduced if these patients had access to medical cannabis. Implement the Jake Honig law’s Institutional Caregivers to accomplish this!

Expand qualifying conditions:

CMMNJ urged the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to allow anyone with prescriptive privileges in New Jersey to recommend cannabis therapy for ANY condition that the prescriber feels may be helped by medical cannabis.

Workplace issues:

In Hunt v. Matthews a NJ plaintiff alleges that the employer refused to hire him after a pre-employment drug screen had a positive THC result and he disclosed his status as a licensed medical marijuana patient. The CRC issued guidelines for workplace impairment.

Psilocybin Legalization Bill:

NJ Senate President Files Psilocybin Legalization Bill; CMMNJ Board of Directors endorsed Bill S2934, Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act. SoundMind, a psychedelic therapy and training center, has launched Veteran Peer Support Model to help veterans address a variety of mental health conditions.

Cannabis Certification Classes are at 8 NJ Community Colleges.

Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

Sam Delgado, Krista Nash, Maria Del Cid, Charles Barker, Dianna Houenou, Chair, & Jeff Brown, Executive Director complete the 6-member CRC. The CRC licenses, and oversees the licenses for, six different sectors of the cannabis economy: cultivator, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, retailer, and deliverer. There will also be licenses set aside for “microbusinesses” with 10 or fewer employees, and for minority, women, and disabled-veteran owned businesses.

The highest priority is given to “Social Equity Businesses, diversely-owned businesses, microbusinesses, and conditional license applicants” when being reviewed--applicants who were previously convicted for cannabis crimes, live in “economically disadvantaged areas,” or fit the criteria of minority, women, or disabled-veteran owned businesses. By 12/8/22, the CRC awarded 505 conditional cannabis licenses.

In 2022, eleven CRC meetings were held, in addition to Regional Hearings.

On March 15, 2022, the CRC began accepting applications for dispensaries to sell marijuana to anyone over 21. By 4 p.m., 172 applications had been filed. On March 24 the CRC approved 68 conditional licenses for recreational growers and manufacturers, but tabled a vote on allowing existing ATCs to begin selling marijuana to recreational customers. Sen. Nick Scutari called for hearings into NJ legal weed delays. The CRC held a special meeting on April 11, where they considered certifications for expanded ATCs. Delays not unusual?

Emerging Social Equity Concerns in New Jersey.

The CRC approved the legal, adult use sales of cannabis to begin at seven ATCs in NJ on 4/21/22!

Trichome Analytical, NJ’s first accredited cannabis and hemp testing lab, won the state’s first annual testing license, License #TL000001, in the adult-use program.

Five ATCs were fined $360K for selling to adult use customers during patient-only hours in NJ’s legal weed launch

Ewing ATC, BLOC, opened with hopes of selling adult weed in the fall.

As of September 12, a patient account is necessary to participate in the Medicinal Cannabis Program and to renew your ID card.

The social equity excise fee will direct money to communities hardest hit by the War on Drugs. Which programs will these fees go to? The CRC wants to hear from you. Three virtual meetings were held for residents and organizations on 11/15; 11/16; and on 11/17. The next hearings on this issue will be on 1/10/23 and 1/18/23 at 7 pm. CMMNJ endorsed ACLU-NJ’s recommendations for CRC’s proposed rules. The state laid out plans for how to spend its money.

The CRC recommended the state’s Department of the Treasury fund the Cannabis Training Academy to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs establishing cannabis businesses within the state.

At its 12/3/22 meeting, the CRC approved 113 conditional adult-use cannabis license applications, six conversions, eight annual applications, and Harmony’s medical cannabis dispensary expansion to adult-use cannabis.

Ascend Fort Lee became the 21st store in NJ to offer recreational cannabis when it opened for adult use sales on November 17. Find an adult use ATC in NJ.

The CRC approved rules for indoor and outdoor Cannabis Consumption Areas.

The Trenton City Council:

Following the recommendation of the Trenton Cannabis Advisory Committee, City Council approved WOAH FLOW’s ATC application on 12/1/22, the first cannabis business approved in the city. State regulations require a resolution of support from the governing body of a municipality, approving the cannabis business operation. The state also requires approval from the local zoning and/or planning board.

National issues and Federal Drug Policy Reform:

Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize cannabis for adults on 5/25/22! In November 2022, Maryland and Missouri joined the states that legalized marijuana.

In New York State on 12/29/22, it became legal for anyone over 21 to buy cannabis.

Recreational cannabis sales to start in Connecticut Jan. 10, 2023.

President Joe Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, the first standalone marijuana reform legislation ever sent to the president’s desk. The Congressional Cannabis Caucus said: “For decades, the federal government has stood in the way of science and progress—peddling a misguided and discriminatory approach to cannabis.”

On October 6, 2022, President Biden pardoned federal convictions for simple marijuana possession offenses. Biden urged all Governors to do the same for state offenses. Biden also directed a review of how marijuana is Schedule I under the federal Controlled Substances Act. “This is a high point,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

The U.S. Supreme Court was asked to decide if employers can be forced to reimburse workers for the cost of medical cannabis used to treat job-related injuries. State courts have come to differing conclusions on the issue.

David Borden from StopTheDrugWar.org said: “2022 ended with the disappointing delay again of marijuana policy reform measures in Congress. One of those was the SAFE Banking Act. Our groundbreaking report released a few weeks ago on armed robberies of marijuana stores shows how important it is, for cannabusinesses” to have access to financial services.

In the November 2022 Midterm Elections Senator Fetterman was elected in Pennsylvania, which means we now have a tristate area of federal pro-cannabis legislators.

On 7/21/22, New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Cory Booker introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act entirely. Sen. Booker said, “Federal marijuana prohibition is beginning to be more and more absurd.”

The Senate confirmed Dr. Shareef Elnahal as VA undersecretary of health. @ShereefElnahal said: Marijuana needs to be descheduled at the federal level. We are stuck with:

Scant research funding
Limited to no access in hospitals/nursing homes
High costs for patients.

In a Gallup poll, a record 68% of Americans support legalizing cannabis, with 32% in opposition. (NJ’s numbers for the 11/20 ballot question to legalize cannabis—67% to 32%!)

The U.S. Department of Justice said medical marijuana users are unfit to possess firearms. A federal judge agreed that people who use marijuana are engaging in criminal activity at the federal level and there’s precedent to deny them the right to have firearms.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to federally legalize marijuana (the MORE Act). The vote (220-204) fell along party lines with only three Republicans supporting the measure and two Democrats opposing it. The bill heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) will file his own cannabis bill.

The U.S. Senate voted to expand research into cannabis to see if there are any medical benefit. Marijuana could be a way to combat the opioid epidemic.

“Cannabis workers will be pursuing union representation not only in NJ, but around the nation:” Hugh Giordano, UFCW Local 360.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) promotes access to psychedelics for their therapeutic potential. He seeks to clarify that the Right to Try law means that patients with terminal health conditions can obtain and use Schedule I controlled substances.

NORML’s Paul Armentano discussed developments in State Cannabis Laws and Cannabis Reforms at the Federal Level.

Kansas hospital-room raid busts dying man for using marijuana at Christmastime. Police dismissed the ticket. Police Chief: “We shouldn’t have laws on the books that we don’t want enforced, and if we want to help people, we have to address this issue.”

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) report on State Medical Marijuana Laws.

Cannabis Scientist Raphael Mechoulam’s 92nd birthday was 11/5/22. He is one of the greatest cannabinoid researchers and is still at it in Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

2022 CMMNJ Publications

In 2022, CMMNJ held ten free, public meetings on the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM via Zoom conferences. Meetings were not held in March or July 2022.

CMMNJ Monthly Agendas and Minutes also contain links to published reports by and about CMMNJ Board members and friends. For the CMMNJ Agendas and Minutes, see the CMMNJ blog. May 16, 2022 was the 13th anniversary of the CMMNJ blog.

CMMNJ Meeting Agenda for December 13, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/12/cmmnj-monthly-meeting-agenda-for.html

CMMNJ November 15, 2022 Meeting Agenda:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/11/cmmnj-public-zoom-meeting-for-november.html

CMMNJ Meeting Agenda for October 11, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/10/october-11-2022-cmmnj-public-meeting.html

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda for September 13, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/09/cmmnj-september-13-2022-public-meeting.html

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda for August 9, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/07/cmmnj-zoom-meeting-agenda-for-august-9.html

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda for June 14, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/06/june14-2022-public-zoom-meeting-agenda.html

CMMNJ Urges Veto Override of Delaware’s HB 371

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/06/cmmnj-urges-veto-override-of-delawares.html

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda May 10, 2021:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/05/cmmnj-monthly-meeting-agenda-for-may-10.html

Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee Concerning the implementation of recreational cannabis in New Jersey

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/05/testimony-to-senate-judiciary-committee.html

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda for April 12, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/04/cmmnj-monthly-meeting-agenda-for-april.html

Senate Health Committee Testimony in Support of S313: insurance coverage for medical marijuana

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/04/senate-health-committee-testimony-in.html

Testimony to the NJ CRC March 24, 2022, (oral testimony at 1:40:03) on:

Medical conditions that should be added to the Medicinal Cannabis Program
Patient education/counseling needs
Medicinal product expiration dates

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/04/crc-testimony-march-24-2022.html

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda for February 8, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/02/

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda for January 11, 2022:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/01/cmmnj-public-meeting-agenda-for-jan-11.html

CMMNJ Year End Report 2021:

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2022/01/cmmnj-year-end-report-for-2021.html

CMMNJ events and stories in 2022

CMMNJ volunteer Slava Rabinovitch frequently tabled at the New Brunswick train station.

Cannabusiness Info Session, 1/6/22.

An Afternoon of Cannabis with Heady NJ! S. Hackensack, 1/9/22

Jo Anne Zito’s Op Ed: “Why the delay on hearings for homegrown cannabis? Medical advocate says it’s N.J. politics. | Opinion”

Ken Wolski’s Trentonian LTE: “Better city government possible: marijuana legalization is the key”

CMMNJ had frequent contact with the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA) after the roll-out of adult use sales, to ensure access to medical cannabis was the priority in NJ.

Stockton U. Cannabis Job Fair and Business Expo

Growing Equity: Healing from Prohibition in Princeton, Chris Goldstein

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) Lunch and Learn 4/1/22.

Trenton, NJ State House Demonstration with Sativa Cross, April 20, 2022.

DFCR Webinar: “Cannabis and the Opioid Crisis” 6/22/22.

Cannabis Patient Awareness Day/NJ Cannabis Cup! Trenton, 7/10/22.

SHORE GROW Patient Aid fundraiser, 3329A Doris Ave., Ocean NJ, 8/20/22.

Pennington Day, 5/21.

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) Lunch and Learn: “New Jersey Cannabis History - The Patient Advocacy Path to Legalization.”

OVERRIDE THE LEGALIZATION VETO! Rally, Dover, DE, 6/7/22.

HGRNJ and Ken Wolski discuss Legalization of Cannabis in New Jersey, 4/21/22.

NE CANN, Atlantic City, 9/9&10/22;

420 Expo, Edison, NJ, 9/16-18/22.

Delaware Weedstock, 9/30- 10/2.

HeadyNJ: Cannabis Policy Discussion Hackensack, NJ 9/25.

TCNJ Community Fest, Ewing, 9/24

CMMNJ testimony on 9/29/22 to the Assembly Committee in support of A3946, a bill to allow business deductions for cannabis companies licensed and regulated by NJ.

CannaBash, Trenton, 10/8/22.

CannaOne, Edison, 10/10 -10/12. CMMNJ presentation 10/12.

National Hispanic Cannabis Council, Jersey City, City Hall, 10/15.

Home Grow Lobby Day, Trenton State House, 10/27.

F.E.M. PREAACH - Psychedelics Panel, Stockton U., 11/12/22 Live panel of psychedelics experts recruited by CMMNJ Board member Gaetano Lardieri followed by over 30 recorded 5-minute segments covering psychedelics from multiple angles.

Heady NJ: Cannabis Gathering, UFCW Union Hall, West Berlin, 11/12/22.

Cannabis Quality Conference & Expo, Parsippany, 10/17 – 19.

Heady NJ: Cannabis Gathering, UFCW Union Hall, West Berlin, 11/12.

Ewing FOP: Marijuana Presentation, Ewing Hollowbrook Center 11/9.

Thanksgiving Giveaway, State House, Trenton, 11/24.

The 20th anniversary of CMMNJ’s first public event at the White Dog Café will be on 3/10/23.

The 20th anniversary of the death of Cheryl Miller, the multiple sclerosis patient, early NJ medicinal marijuana activist, and wife of CMMNJ co-founder Jim Miller, will be on 6/7/23.

Thanks to CMMNJ Volunteers

On behalf of the Board of Directors of CMMNJ, I would like to thank all our supporters for their tireless efforts and contributions throughout the year. As we are an all-volunteer organization, we are nothing without you!

CMMNJ 2022 Board Update

Frequent Board discussions were conducted by group emails and messages in addition to formal Board meetings during 2022.

CMMNJ had seven (7) Board members on Insider NJ’s 2022 Cannabis Power List: Ken Wolski #6, JoAnne Zito #26, Jim & Cheryl Miller #28, Amanda Hoffman #55, Peter Rosenfeld #65, Guy Lardieri #72, and Mike Brennan #82.

Ken Wolski is now chairman of Trenton’s Cannabis Advisory Committee.

At the close of the year, the CMMNJ Board consists of the following 10 people:

Kenneth R. Wolski, RN, Executive Director;
James Miller, President;
Edward R. Hannaman, Esq., Secretary;
Nick Mellis;
Peter Rosenfeld;
Larry Vargo;
Amanda Hoffman;
Jo Anne Zito;
Gaetano Lardieri;
Michael Brennan; and,

CMMNJ’s Board Member Emeritus is Allan Marain, Esq.

Treasury Report

In 2022 CMMNJ began the year with a balance of $11,809. CMMNJ finished the year with a checking account balance of $13,007, for a gain of $1,198.

The SHORE GROW Patient Aid fundraiser on 8/20/22 raised over $1,700 for CMMNJ.

Curaleaf ATC’s raised $3,000 in donations for CMMNJ. CMMNJ has a small display of our free, colorful, all-hemp bracelets, where business patrons can make donations to CMMNJ. We are deeply grateful to these organizations for their support.

CMMNJ still has almost 50,000 hemp wristbands/necklaces/keychains that were donated to our organization. The multicolored bands were made in Romania. The suggested price is $1 apiece. Wholesale prices are available.

CMMNJ is grateful for the generous financial support of all who contributed to our mission. This includes those who contributed anonymously through Network for Good. Many people also generously donated their time, their professional and personal services, office space, supplies, etc. to CMMNJ.

CMMNJ Looking Ahead

Allow registered patients in the NJ MMP to grow a limited supply of cannabis.
Implement insurance coverage for medical cannabis.
Fully implement the Jake Honig law.
Ensure that the adult use program brings affordable, high-quality marijuana in an appropriately regulated, socially just way, without negatively impacting patient access to medical cannabis.
CMMNJ renews its annual call for national clinical trials of marijuana.
Deschedule marijuana completely, both in New Jersey and nationally.

Follow CMMNJ

CMMNJ’s public meetings for 2023 will continue to be held on the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 pm via Zoom. All are welcome at these meetings and there is never a charge to attend. CMMNJ sent the agendas for these meetings via e-mail to over 1000 supporters each month and posted the agendas on Facebook, Twitter and on the CMMNJ blog. To receive the agendas, sign up at: https://www.cmmnj.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=113

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational organization, incorporated in the State of New Jersey. The mission of CMMNJ is to educate the public about medical marijuana. The goal of CMMNJ is to have safe and legal access to medical marijuana for all qualified New Jersey patients. March 10, 2022 was the 19th anniversary of the founding of CMMNJ.

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

Facebook: Friends of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana-NJ, or, Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey

Twitter: @CMM_NJ

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

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director

Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc. https://www.cmmnj.org/

219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618

(609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com kenwolski@gmail.com

January 4, 2022

Wednesday, January 4, 2023