CMMNJ Monthly Public Meeting Agenda for April 11, 2023 at 7 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 897 0558 9538 Passcode: 171641 Or, click: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89705589538?pwd=elI5QVplS1ltZ01zeStQMmlMMlVldz09
Agenda:
In this month of Passover, Easter, Ramadan, and the Neopagan Spring Equinox celebrations, a Priest reminds us about drugs: “The law of the land is unjust.”
"It is clear to many that the war on drugs is not working," says Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a remarkable statement.
Great presentation on Harm Reduction by TCNJ professor Sandy Gibson at last month’s CMMNJ meeting: We advocate for the decriminalization of drugs because it:
- Reduces the number of people involved in the criminal justice system;
- Improves cost-effectiveness of limited resources;
- Creates a climate where people who are using drugs problematically can seek treatment without stigma or fear of arrest;
- Improves treatment outcomes where treatment is called for; and,
- Removes barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce the potential harms of drug use.
Marijuana laws are evolving and vary from state to state, especially for DUI enforcement.
One in five Medicare recipients currently uses medical marijuana (but) it could be years before Medicare may cover the drug.
PA Workman’s Comp Insurer in Violation for Failure to Reimburse Claimant for Medical Marijuana; PA employers are required to pay for medical marijuana use by its employees for their work injuries. Pennsylvania Supreme Court review coming?
NJ’s Laws & Regulations regarding Medical Marijuana are here.
NORML NJ, CMMNJ, & DFCR met with Sen. Gopal's Policy Director Michael Illiano on 4/3/23 to discuss home grow for medical patients. We need more co-sponsors for S342/A997 and an expanded coalition of supporters inc. healthcare associations. “Senate President [Nick] Scutari is really holding his members back in line on this issue,” Chris Goldstein said.
‘Father of Cannabis Science’ Raphael Mechoulam Dead at 92
How New Jersey is cultivating women cannabis entrepreneurs. THE TIME FOR EQUITY IN CANNABIS AND THE ‘FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW’ by Nichelle Santos.
Sun-Grown Cannabis Has More Terpenes: A Closer Look at the Benefits of Natural Cultivation.
N.J. police methods to determine if motorists are high on weed could face stricter scrutiny under top court ruling: The decision delays a definitive answer on the use of Drug Recognition Experts.
Cannabis significantly reduces the need for opioid-based medications in managing chronic pain.
Federal Drug Policy Reform:
Kentucky legalized medical marijuana; the 38th state to do so.
DE Legislature Passed HB 1 & HB 2, Joint Bills to Legalize Cannabis: Let Gov. Carney know 70% of Delawareans want him to 'Sign HB 1 & HB 2 into law'!
Oklahoma voters rejected a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in the state amid turmoil caused by the introduction of medical dispensaries.
Congressional lawmakers filed a bill to streamline federal rescheduling of “breakthrough therapies” like psilocybin and MDMA to promote research and drug development.
Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023.
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):
Meetings: April 13, and May 4, both at 1 pm. Register to speak here. You may submit comments in writing to the Commission here.
The CRC promotes three classes of cannabis license holders: those who are diverse — minorities, women, disabled veterans; people from “impact zones” communities disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs, and social equity applicants, those convicted of marijuana offenses or from economically disadvantaged areas.
CMMNJ’s 2023 medical cannabis goals include:
- insurance coverage;
- home cultivation rights;
- hospital & institutional access; and
- expanded qualifying conditions.
Medical Cannabis Insurance bills:
- S313/A3248: Costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO.
- S309/A3511: Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage.
- S782/A3932: Subsidize medical cannabis in Medicaid or NJ Family Care.
Home cultivation bills: Web site: https://www.letpatientsgrownj.com/
- 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
Hospital and Institutional Access:
NJ patients in hospitals, nursing homes, state institutions, group homes and hospice are unable to access medical cannabis. Implement the Jake Honig law’s Institutional Caregivers to accomplish this!
Upcoming Events:
Global Cannabis March: Rehoboth Beach, May 6, 3pm.
Pennington Day 2023, May 20th, 10 - 4 pm. Help with CMMNJ booth!
2nd Annual NJ Cannapreneur Conference with Ken Wolski, RN, FDU Campus, Teaneck, NJ, 4/21, 10 - 4 p.m.
NJCBA: GETTING YOUR LICENSE, NOW WHAT? 4/12/23, 3 - 9:00 PM, Galloping Hill Golf Club Register Full day – $150.00.
Lobby Days at The Capitol, Washington, DC, 4/18-20, 2023, with M4MM, Marijuana Policy Project, CannaCoverage, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Assn., & Asian Cannabis roundtable.
National Cannabis Festival, Washington, DC, 4/22, Nichelle Santos will address: "Impact of Healthcare Inequities in Black Communities with Medical Cannabis."
NJ State House Annual 420 Rally for Home Grow & Gifting, 4/20/23 at 11:11 am.
Recent events:
State House Home Grow Rally 3/30/23
Social Equity in Cannabis: Faces Behind the Fight: Baked by the River, Lambertville, 3/30.
NJ’s first major cannabis business conference of 2023, Hilton Hotel Newark Airport, March 8.
March 10, 2023 was the 20th anniversary of CMMNJ’s first public event at the White Dog Café in Philadelphia. Help us celebrate 20 years of cannabis reform—support our goals!
Treasury report:
Checking: $11,946.
CMMNJ, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618.
More info:
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/
Website: Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey: https://www.cmmnj.org
Twitter: @CMM_NJ
CMMNJ blog: https://cmmnj.blogspot.com/
CMMNJ won the 2021 NJ Governor's Jefferson Award Volunteer Group category.
CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.
