NJ Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill supported cannabis home grow legalization and discussed her cannabis policy priorities on a CBS talk show.

She appeared on a CBS New York show called “The Point” yesterday. During a call-in segment, a man named “Steve” asked what her cannabis policy would be.

Sherrill noted there are a series of issues with New Jersey cannabis laws she would focus on working on as Governor.

“Addressing some of the home grow provisions, which I’m supportive of,” she explained, was a priority.

In contrast, in 2021, when running for re-election, Governor Phil Murphy (D) said he would merely consider it during a similar mainstream show. He was far more in favor of ending arrests for marijuana possession and establishing a legal adult-use cannabis market.

NJ Cannabis Home Growing Issues

In contrast, in 2021, when running for re-election, Governor Phil Murphy (D) said he would merely consider it during a similar mainstream show. He was far more in favor of ending arrests for marijuana possession and establishing a legal adult-use cannabis market.

NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union-22) recently endorsed allowing home grow of one plant.

He has long been against homegrow. He has cited the need to grow the industry first, which hit a billion dollars last year.

NJ cannabis advocates have made great progress advocating for a bill that NJ Senate leaders Troy Singleton (D-NJ-7) and Vin Gopal have championed. It has gotten support from both Republican and Democratic legislators from across the State. Their bill calls for medical cannabis patients to be allowed to grow 8 plants.

Home growing is technically a felony in the Garden State. But Heady NJ has not heard of the State making a case against a potential martyr for growing only a few plants for some time now.

Mikie Sherrill Discusses Cannabis and Hemp

“Everyone in New Jersey wants to see the laws changed. The legislature feels as if, um, they haven’t gotten the law right there,” Sherrill noted. “The cannabis companies feel the law isn’t right.”

She said intoxicating hemp THC drinks are unregulated, and being sold at convenience stores like 711 is a problem.

Sherrill also noted she wanted to work on having “better regulations around cannabis, where it can be sold…. They want to legitimize their business.”

Cannabis Sales Tax Revenue Discussion

“Are you satisfied with where the money is going from um pot sales?… Or would you maybe change it and take some of that revenue and use it for some of the things you want to do…?” Kramer asked.

“Some of the cannabis money was supposed to go into more provisions, ensuring kids didn’t have access to it. That hasn’t happened,” Sherrill said. “I’d like to see it going to where the legislation said it would go.”

“If we can have more revenue to put into a lot of the programs, we want to see statewide, I’d welcome that,” she added.

The State of New Jersey has not said much about adult-use cannabis tax revenue spending.

The goal of many cannabis legalization advocates was for it to help inner city minority-majority neighborhoods hit hardest by the War on Drugs.

Some of the money is indeed going into violence prevention programs operating in urban areas.

Some of it is funding the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), the Business Action Center’s (BAC) Cannabis Training Academy, and Economic Development Authority (EDA) programs for cannabis entrepreneurs.

But the amount of money for social justice programs has gotten tricky. Opposition to an increase in the wholesale Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) tax that would fund them has grown.

21 and Up Only

Sherrill was also concerned about kids getting weed, which advocates believe to be sensible.

“Ensuring young kids don’t have access to cannabis products, making sure we’re doing better enforcement,” she explained, is also a priority.

“I’ve heard concerns from some mayors about in bodegas, very young kids are getting um access to edibles that look like candy…,” Sherrill said.

Jack Ciattarelli’s Anti-Cannabis Positions

Sherrill has consistently expressed pro-cannabis positions. But her opponent, former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, has expressed several anti-cannabis positions in the past.

In 2021, he called marijuana a “gateway drug” and suggested making adult-use cannabis illegal again.

In 2016, he voted against allowing military veterans to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

But it’s hard to believe a politician has turned a new leaf despite their record. Some are indeed genuine opportunists who change after seeing shifting attitudes.

Neither candidate has said much about cannabis overall during the general election campaign season.