CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Agenda for June 10, 2025

 

CMMNJ Monthly Zoom Meeting Agenda for June 10, 2025 at 7 pm

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 This is a free, open, non-judgmental space for individuals to express their opinions and thoughts on current events and issues on medical marijuana.

Agenda: New Jersey Issues:

NJ primary election, June 10, 2025: Polls close at 8 pm tonight! Did you vote? Official Primary Election Candidates: Governor Unofficial Primary Election Candidates Email: Governor Official Primary Election Candidates: General Assembly Unofficial Primary Election Candidates Email: General Assembly

Bill A913 to allow NJ patients to use medicinal cannabis for sickle cell anemia passed in the Assembly 05/22/2025: Session Voting: Yes: 71, No: 2, Not Voting: 3, Abstain: 4. The companion bill, S2392, has yet to have a hearing.

NJ Senator Scutari’s bill S4154, “Establishes crime of selling or purchasing marijuana from unlicensed businesses" had an informational hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 29. See Mike Brennan’s testimony, “Opposing Recriminalization of Cannabis Possession.” Mike’s testimony at the audio recording of the hearing begins at the 1:46:00 mark and ends at 1:51:57. The NJ Attorney General is expected at a follow-up meeting to explain why LEO’s are not prosecuting unlicensed dispensaries. “Our legal operators are going to be out of business. They cannot compete,” Trenton Law Director Wes Bridges declared. Sign NORML's S4154 action alert. 

Cannademix’s 3^rd annual Unity convention featured advocating for homegrowing along with consumer and patient rights, including the need for testing. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop endorsed medical magic mushrooms for veterans, and said he inhaled, at the convention at the American Dream Mall. “I’ll help you out with (homegrow),” Fulop said. “You got my word on that.”

The MJ Unpacked Cannabis Cup and industry convention were held in Atlantic City in May. Many newer companies won a range of awards.

NJ’s cannabis community mourns the recent death of Wayne "KannabisKing" Burrini. See Facebook photo album.

NJ’s medical cannabis home cultivation bill S1393 has bipartisan co-sponsors, but no committee hearing scheduled yet. The identical Assembly bill is A846. Sign NORML’s S1393 Action Alert.

Let Advanced Practice Nurses Recommend Medical Cannabis: NORML Petition

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC):

Next meeting: Thursday, June 12, 2025 will be in person at 44 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton to begin at 11 a.m. Register to speak here by June 10th at 5 p.m. Submit comments in writing to the CRC here, by June 13th at 5 p.m.

Watch on Zoom or on YouTube

The CRC began accepting applications for Cannabis Consumption Areas on January 2^nd from Social Equity and Economically Disadvantaged Area businesses only. On April 2^nd, micro and diversely owned, and on July 2^nd, from everyone else.

Federal Drug Policy Reform:

Trump Wants To Delete State Medical Marijuana Protections in his budget request for the 2026 fiscal year, but continue to protect state hemp programs. He additionally proposes to prohibit the use of funds for “any activity that promotes the legalization of any drug or other substance included in schedule I.”  

Terrance Cole will be the administrator of the DEA amid the ongoing review of a marijuana rescheduling proposal that he’s refused to commit to enacting. Cole has concerns about the dangers of marijuana including higher suicide risk. 

Dana Beal’s GoFundMe for his trial expenses. More info at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp-kILfYSPk

A Lot More Older Americans Are Now Using Marijuana, Study Shows

The PA Senate defeated the House legalization bill, with its state-run dispensaries, but lawmakers said they’re aiming to reach a compromise and pass reform legislation before the budget deadline at the end of June.

Upcoming events:

MAPS: Psychedelic Science, Denver, June 16-20, 2025 

MPP: National Cannabis Festival 2025, Washington, DC July 18-19, 2025.

Health Summit, public cannabis education, S. Jersey, 8/2-3/25. Elucidation

Patients Out of Time: The Road to 30, Episode 2, “The Missoula Study.”       The 16th National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, From Prohibition to Recognition, in Charlottesville, VA, 9/14-16/2025.

Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC) 3rd Annual Medical Cannabis Conference,
Metropolitan State University of Denver, October 24– October 25.

CMMNJ’s ongoing goals:

Insurance bills: Press release: NJSNA supports insurance for medicinal cannabis

·        S1944: Costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO.

·        S1943/A4371: Requires workers’ compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage.

·        A898/ S2828: Subsidize medical cannabis in Medicaid or NJ Family Care.

Home cultivation bills: Petition: End the Blockade on NJ Senate bill S1393

·        Website: https://www.letpatientsgrownj.com/

·        S1393/A846: Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis.

·        S1985/A3867: 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 need access to medical cannabis. Patient outcomes would improve, and health care costs would be reduced with access to medical cannabis. 

In 2023 CMMNJ endorsed psychedelic research and the safe use of psychedelics.  A3852/S2283 "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"

Treasury report: $8,993

Fundraising ideas are always welcome. CMMNJ has thousands of hemp wristbands. Can your organization use them? See photo, below.

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/X: @CMM_NJ

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

CMMNJ website: https://cmmnj.org/

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.