CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for March 11, 2025 at 7 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: ID: 898 1621 4304 Passcode: 505385 Or, click:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89816214304?pwd=q96ST6LtrwpYcBwfoUIWAX5JOJuOTY.1
One tap mobile: +1 (309) 205-3325; ID: 898 1621 4304 # Passcode: *505385#
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kewxJVEKpi
Agenda:
NJ Home Grow Campaign Progresses as Legalization
Hits 4th Anniversary; more than 50 cannabis businesses and advocacy groups
formed the NJ Home Grow Coalition. Senators Troy Singleton and Vin Gopal sponsored
S1393/A846 to
allow medical cannabis patients to grow a small amount of weed at home.
N.J. medical cannabis patients feel
betrayed as
legal weed business booms.
N.J.: Allow Patients to Grow Their Own
Medicine: NORML
letter.
Price Gouging is Killing NJ’s Medical
Cannabis Program: The
products in NJ are far more expensive than in nearby states.
The NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC)
reported over 1,000 students
have registered for the Cannabis
Training Academy since its 10/24 launch.
NJ Senate President Nick Scutari’s bill S 4154,
“Establishes crime of selling
or purchasing marijuana from unlicensed businesses” will re-criminalizing legacy
operators and those who buy from them. Trenton wants to enforce its
ordinance against illegal dispensaries that compete with the legal industry,
but this bill also criminalizes the "knowing" purchase from the
illegal dispensaries with a 6-month jail term and a fine as a Disorderly
Person. Oppose this bill through NORML.
Another Scutari bill, S4074
would allow
medical cannabis dispensaries to begin selling recreational weed without
municipal approval.
NJ Gov. Murphy: “Just last year, our
adult-use cannabis market surpassed $1
billion in sales. The
tax revenue from the sale provides funding to support violence
intervention programs across our state…In just 5 years, cannabis has
gone from destroying lives in the form of excessive criminal sentences, to
helping save lives,” he
said.
NJ Governor's race 2025: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka told Jelani
Gibson at NJ Cannabis Insider, "As for renters versus homeowners, cannabis
shouldn’t be treated any differently than other restrictions on indoor or
outdoor gardening, so long as it’s not commercial and is not in a public space
where minors would have access." Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said, "I
would be fully supportive of allowing home cultivation of cannabis for personal
recreational and medical use with some commonsense guardrails in place to
prevent unregulated commercial activities and to protect quality of life."
NJ Office of the Attorney General: Ken’s letter: “Please recognize that for
some medical marijuana patients, homegrow is a matter of survival for them. It
serves no public policy to prosecute such patients.” If you have not received a
reply within 10 business days, please call 609-984-5828, the Office of
Constituent Services. The letter was also sent to the NJ Prosecutor’s Assn.
NJ courts have said it is the state's constitutional obligation to provide adequate healthcare to inmates, and this obligation extended to providing care that met current standards in the community. It appears that legal action will be required to allow inmates who have qualifying conditions to have access to medicinal cannabis.
Guy Lardieri hosts talks on Psychedelics,
Tuesdays, 6 pm: See: https://www.talkradio.nyc/post/2025-02-25-the-legal-landscape-of-psychedelics-in-new-jersey-and-beyond-and-a-patient-advocates-personal-push-for-psychedelics
Let Advanced Practice Nurses Recommend Medical Cannabis: NORML Petition
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):
Since 2012, New Jersey's Medicinal Cannabis Program has been helping patients access cannabis treatment. Now, 13 years later, the NJ-CRC is beginning the review process to update medicinal cannabis regulations. We want to hear from patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and others with interest in the program as we seek to enhance patient benefits.
Join us on *ZOOM on the following dates to have your voice heard:
- Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 6 p.m. Register to speak here
- Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Noon. Register to speak here
- Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. Register to speak here
|
*A Zoom link for each Town Hall will be shared as we get closer to the event dates.
Bill A913: Authorizes medical cannabis for sickle cell anemia; Assembly Health Committee hearing; 3/6/25; why legislation for additional qualifying conditions?
The CRC released
the updated cannabis lab testing rules at their last meeting.
More than $6
million collected from a cannabis tax has been sitting unused even though the CRC
has sent spending recommendations to the Legislature for three years.
Current job opportunities with the NJ-CRC: Investigator Trainee.
The
CRC began accepting applications for Cannabis Consumption Areas
on January 2nd from Social Equity and Economically Disadvantaged Area businesses
only. On April 2nd, micro and diversely owned, and on July 2nd, from everyone else.
Federal Drug Policy Reform:
North Carolina
Voters Support Legalizing Medical Marijuana In
New Poll, With Strong Backing Across Party Lines. NC is one of just a
handful of states without some form of legal medical marijuana.
PA Gov. Josh
Shapiro again proposed legalizing recreational marijuana as part of his
recent $51.5 billion budget pitch; taxing
cannabis sales could rake in a total of $1.3 billion in the first five
years.
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.
- A414: Legalizes possession of six marijuana plants for personal use.
- S1985: Legalizes six plants for personal use and 10 plants for medical.
NJ patients in hospitals, nursing homes, state institutions, group homes and hospice are unable to access medical cannabis. Patient outcomes would improve, and health care costs would be reduced if these patients had access to medical cannabis.
Psychedelic research and the safe use of psychedelics:
A3852/S2283 "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"
Upcoming Events:
7th Annual Cannabis & Psychedelic Law Symposium, 3/12/25, NJ State Bar Assn., New Brunswick. Register: https://njsba.com/event/the-7th-annual-cannabis-and-psychedelics-law-symposium/
Moorestown Day is on June 1, 2025: https://www.moorestown.nj.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=2263
Earth Day event/press conference at the
Statehouse, 4/22/25(?). 4/20/25=Easter.
2025 LGBTQ+ Pride, Asbury Park, June 1st, 12
- 7pm. If volunteers are available.
Health Summit, public cannabis education, S. Jersey, 8/2-3/25. Elucidation
Patients Out of Time: From Prohibition
to Recognition, Charlottesville, VA, 9/14-16
Treasury report:
Checking: $10,367;
PayPal: $27.
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
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/
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.”
Website: Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey website being redesigned. Join the “CMMNJ Tech Team” to help with website, etc. Text Nick Mellis @ 609.331.9304
CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.
