Cannademix’s 3rd annual Unity convention featured a discussion about advocating for homegrowing along with consumer and patient rights, including the need for testing.
Heady NJ Editor & Publisher Dan Ulloa moderated the lively chat with longtime cannabis legalization advocate and occasional Heady NJ columnist Chris Goldstein, NJ Home Grow Coalition and Safe Leaf Society Co-Founder Andrea Raible, and Kristen Goedde, CEO and co-founder of Trichome Analytical.
“In the last year, we’ve been focusing on medical (homegrowing legalization) bill S1393 on the Senate side and have gotten up to 11 co-sponsors,” said Raible on the progress made in the legislature.
Updates at the CRC Needed
Ulloa asked if they would name the names of bad corporate actors.
“There are certain patterns that are red flags. If you want to name names, it’s the CRC (Cannabis Regulatory Commission),” Gooede declared.
She cited how there has only been one official recall in the last four years since they were established.
(This does seem very low compared to the number of rumors Heady NJ has heard.)
She conveyed how the CRC should be doing more to test, pull harmful strains, and work with consumers to produce safe cannabis.
“It’s indicative of data manipulation and lack of transparency… we’re not properly audited, and I want to be! I want everyone to be held to the same standard, and right now, there’s no standard… This is a national problem. We’re trying to track down how these issues are happening and how to stop them,” Gooede explained.
“Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program recalled all of the vape cartridges, pulled them out of the dispensaries, put them in a warehouse, and said you couldn’t access them whatsoever,” Goldstein noted.
“The empire of the industry struck back. They went to court, got an injunction, got those products back, agreed to labeling them as ‘potentially remediated from moldy products’ and re-sold them to consumers,” he added.
National Lab Shopping Issues
Raible shared that lab shopping is a national issue.
“There’s lab shopping that’s very apparent. We need oversight so consumers are receiving accurately labeled products,” she explained.
Lab shopping refers to the illegal practice of scouting for a testing lab that will manipulate results in your favor.
To remedy this, Raible suggested New Jersey allow homegrowing on a small scale or for personalized customization.
“It’s very different from producing for the mass market. Anything on shelves should be tested to realistic, trustworthy standards. Consumers deserve to know what they’re smoking. Anyone can be an advocate for homegrown. I believe that New Jersey has left patients behind … it’s not a threat to the industry. It’s long overdue.” Raible continued.
Advocating for Cannabis Standards
“We’re looking at this data… somehow, mold knows not to grow beyond the standard. Somehow, the laboratory never finds weed that’s below 20% THC… If the THC level is wondrously cut in half from a skewed lab result, that’s not fair…,” Goldstein declared. “It’s serious fraud to people. Legislators are [now] becoming aware of this, and they don’t want to see inaccurate labels.”
“The CRC should have hired a scientist to oversee the labs. That absence is hurting us… cannabis is set to take the third spot for the most profitable industry in the state. $1.5 billion in cannabis sold in our borders is great for everyone,” he argued.
Essex and Union County Homegrowing Activists Needed
The advice was shared to contact your local representatives to advocate for change. “Legislators need to hear about your experience with these things,” emphasized Goedde.
Ulloa asked the crowd and panel about recruiting activists in Union County and Newark in Essex County to persuade their State Senators who hold leadership positions to support homegrowing.
“We need advocates from all across the state, wherever you are… because we might have more than a quarter of the senate signed on as co-sponsor, but we need the assembly side signed on too. There is a willingness. It’s not an empathy issue. It’s an educational issue. If we can get politicians to see why this is important… [they’ll see] we have a unified front,” said Raible.
Cannademix Convention Fun
The Cannademix Unity convention connected weed enthusiasts and industry players.
The “Advocacy in a Legalized State” panel took place after a rousing session with
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop. The candidate for Governor in the Tuesday, June 10th, primary spoke candidly about his past cannabis consumption. He also held a weed plant and endorsed homegrowing and medical magic mushrooms for veterans.
Other panels featured discussions on other issues in the market and the politics and policy surrounding them. In addition, Rui of Garden State of Mind held a painting sesh without the puffing part.
