In cannabis news, the New Jersey legislature pushed cannabis legislation through the committees after the bill to set up the cannabis industry was introduced late Friday night.
“It’s taken years and years for people to come around. The people have spoken,” State Senator Nick Scutari (D-Union) said. “The Drug War in this country and this state has been a miserable failure.
Scutari’s hearing did not even have a camera, merely audio for the public.
He said he was laughed at for pushing for cannabis reform initially.
Making History
“It’s a historic occasion,” said State Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) about the cannabis news of the day. She sponsored the decriminalization bill S. 2535.
“This will erase years of discrimination,” Ruiz added.
Ruiz called her bill “the most progressive decriminalization bill in the nation.”
In her cannabis legislation, all pending marijuana charges were dropped, and records were sealed.
“A lot of work was done to get this bill here today, and a lot was compromised,” Ruiz said. She thanked the Reverend Charles Boyer and the ACLU, and others for championing this.
“When did hashish show up in this bill? Sen Mike Doherty (R-Warren) asked angrily, “I’ve never seen hashish in this bill. Did the people of New Jersey know they were voting on hashish as well?”
“Hashish is known as cannabis residue,” Sutaria explained.
Doherty was also outraged that the bill would take away cannabis odor as probable cause.
“We’re taking away one of their tools?” he asked.
If a car is driving erratically, they can be charged for that instead, Scutari explained.
“Basically, the smell of marijuana can never be used?!” Doherty exclaimed loudly.
“I think that’s correct,” Scutari said. “It’s going to be legal!”
Testimony Taken
“As we build a new cannabis market, we urge New Jersey to prioritize equity and help the people most harmed,” ACLU NJ Policy Director Sarah Fajardo said.
“Our proposal is to create equity applicant status,” Fajardo said.
“We need to get this marketplace off the ground. We do not want to overtax and overburden the product,” Scutari replied. “My number one priority is to get rid of drug dealers. So, I understand the need to undercut the black market.”
“The divvying up of the spoils of the program should be done through the legislative process,” he added about funding impact zones.
Homegrow Cannabis News
“I accept the fact the people have voted,” Senator Gerry Cardinale (R-Bergen) said. Why should not we prevent people from growing marijuana plants?” State Senator Gerry Cardinale said. “I was against homegrow previously, but we’ve had a referendum.”
Scutari said he went with State Senator Kip Bateman (R-Somerset) and found issues with homegrow problems.
“You can’t keep it from getting it into the black market,” Scutari said. “He also said he thought it would hurt the legal market.
“I’m personally not against it. I don’t think the state is ready for it. I don’t think leadership is for it,” he said.
Leadership probably means State Senate President Sweeney (D-Gloucester).
“I’m opening to revisiting it in the near future,” Scutari added. He said regarding police seeking to pull over drivers and test them, “It’s like with the smart gun tech. it’s not really available. It’s not going to be perfect. I guarantee you we’ll be here making adjustments to what we pass.”
Labor Issues
Labor issues were raised for workers who are drug tested and could lose their job as a result.
“There’s so many different sections of the bill, it’s really hard,” State Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said. He said there seems to be a conflict between drug testing workers and the desire to legalize for all.
“What do you want me to put in there?” Scutari asked.
“The testing is not there. That’s the problem,” said Sarlo. He added people could lose jobs.
“How do you judge impairment for an employee? I think that clarity has to be made,” said Tony Russo of the Industry and Commerce Association of New Jersey.
Social Justice Sought
Allison Jones spoke for the NJ Judiciary and wanted criminal codes sectioned, repealed, not amended. She said expungement and dropping of cases should be done automatically.
“We could dismiss those cases in four months. If we don’t, it will take quite a bit longer,” Jones added.
“Congratulations on getting this to the point it is,” said businessman and advocate Patrick Duff said.
Duff said the sick and old wouldn’t have access and advocated for homegrow.
“South Dakota just passed a bill that includes homegrow,” Duff said. “I’d hope New Jersey considers itself more progressive than South Dakota, which voted 68 percent for Trump.”
He also voiced concerns about micro businesses’ eligibility for entrepreneurs.
Duff said someone should be able to open micro-businesses anywhere.
Black Market Issues
“I think I’m here to represent the black market,” said Ed “NJ Weedman” Forchion. “You think you’re going to eliminate the black market? “You’re gonna lose that.”
“Your best shot is to eliminate the felon bans and include us. I’m selling marijuana right down the street. The black market is thriving right now,” Weedman said.
Scutari said he was not banned from the market.
“There is no felon ban?” Forchion asked.
“Not in this one.” Scutari. He said his old bill did.
Including Legacy Operators
“I don’t see how you’re going to eradicate the black market,” Weedman said, including himself. He has often made cannabis news.
“You’re not excluded,” Scutari said.
Weedman explained the issue was there is no expungement for distribution charges.
Scutari said the decriminalization of cannabis legislation allows for expungable offenses up to five pounds.
“Five lbs. isn’t really much when you’re talking about distribution. I have five lbs. down the street. I can sell that in a week,” Weedman said. “Include us. That’s all I wanted to say.”
Scutari said they compromised on five pounds, and increasing that would lose them votes.
“We’ve been fighting for police to get their cards. It’s a shame police are victims to opiates,” said Edward “Lefty” Grimes, who spoke on behalf of the Sativa Cross activist group.
He noted there is still no home delivery for patients even though it became law last year.
“The sick and dying have been waiting for the past year waiting for this,” Grimes said.
“Was Rosa Parks wrong for sitting at the front of the bus? The law was wrong,” Grimes said regarding cannabis.
Legalization Questions
Professor Stephen Marcus of Rutgers had concerns about edibles and access to minors. Scutari said the cannabis legislation addresses that by making the packaging bland and childproof.
Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) said he wanted to be included in the cannabis legislation assistance with capital and setting up funds to go to impact zones. He noted Scutari is working on this. Singleton said he is working with Turner on the impact zone issue.
Scutari said the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) would work on that in a new bill.
“I’m not happy with us doing this so quickly,” Cardinale said before abstaining from the vote.
Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) said there is a need to provide communities most hurt by the War on Drugs. Ruiz said on Thursday she is introducing a bill for impact zones and school funding.
Scutari said there were going to be amendments to the bill.
“I’m trying to do the best I can,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll be ready for this next week,” he said in terms of timing.
New Jersey Assembly Committee Hears Cannabis Legislation Testimony
Advocates testified during the Assembly Oversight Committee hearing while they started at the same time.
The bill brought out many long-standing advocates and cannabis professionals who have made cannabis news. The list included Dr. David Nathan, Tara M S, Jessie Gill, Jessica Gonzalez, Randy Thompson, Reverend Charles Boyer, NJUMR leader lobbyist Bill Caruso, Leo Bridgewater, Hector Oseguera, Jessie Villars, Peter Rosenfeld, Jo Anne Zito, Carl Burwell Jr., and Ami Kachalia.
Assemblyman Joe Danielson (D-Somerset, Middlesex) presided over the committee that made cannabis news. Danielson was a sponsor of the Jake Honig Act.
Nathan gave testimony for labeling and standards for dosing.
“I came to cannabis first as a patient,” Jessie Gill said.
She said she hopes legalization will rescue the medical marijuana program. Gill said 20 percent of the medical marijuana patients she has consulted with turned back to pills or the underground market for supply.
“There are many amazing cultivars out there that could help patients,” Gill said. She noted some are not commercially viable to grow. Thus, homegrow is needed.
“We don’t want George Norcross to bring the Marlboro of cannabis to New Jersey,” Oseguera said.
Villars said it has been too hard for individuals to obtain a medical cannabis license due to the high costs. She also noted the need for cannabis lounges and homegrow.
Danielson said he approves of homegrow.
Michael Torpey of Eaze spoke as well. Eaze has been a long-time back of cannabis delivery and comprehensive legalization.
