Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced the launch of a New Jersey survey, which could provide an opportunity for cannabis advocates to get their messages heard.
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According to the office of the Governor-elect, the survey is supposed to assist in developing public policies and support their focus on “making New Jersey a more affordable, accessible, and opportunity-driven place to live.”
“As we begin our work, I want to hear directly from the people of New Jersey,” said Governor-elect Sherrill. “Our state is full of families, workers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders with firsthand experience navigating our state government. Their insights will help us build a government that is collaborative, creative, and laser-focused on affordability. This survey is one of the many ways we intend to ensure that every voice has a place in shaping our Administration, and in shaping New Jersey’s future.”
Lieutenant Governor-elect Dale Caldwell, Chair of the Gubernatorial Transition, emphasized the importance of public participation.
“Governor-elect Sherrill is committed to opening the doors of state government wider than ever before,” he said. “This survey allows New Jerseyans to share what’s working, what isn’t, and what they want to see from their state government moving forward.”
“The Sherrill-Caldwell administration is taking a ‘get to yes’ mindset to governing,” Transition Executive Director Kellie Doucette added.
NJ Survey Details
Feedback from the submissions will be reviewed by the transition’s Action Teams and Interdisciplinary Task Force. They are charged with generating recommendations for the incoming Administration.
There are a lot of members on these teams, especially the task force.
It’s an easy survey to fill out. There are boxes for long responses. The last probably makes the most sense to have a pitch for a cannabis related issue.
Since winning the election, Sherrill has been building her Administration. She named her former staffer Alex Ball as her Chief of Staff. Also, Tim Lydon, who worked for NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union-22), will be her Chief Counsel.
NJ Cannabis Homegrow and a Survey
Sherrill’s survey offers the best opportunity for adult-use and medical cannabis home grow activists who want several plants to make their voice heard on the official record.
Home grow remains the biggest political issue for many in the New Jersey cannabis community. Unfortunately, it can only be legalized through the passage of legislation that has to be signed by the Governor. So, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) cannot change that.
On a webinar with the NJ CannaBusiness Association during the election, Scutari endorsed legalizing the growing of one cannabis plant at home. Unfortunately, most cannabis home grow advocates believe he has been the problem despite his championing of legal cannabis products.
Consumer Price and Quality Concerns
In addition, legal NJ adult-use cannabis prices and quality concerns both remain very important to consumers. Advocates voiced concerns with mold levels earlier this year to the CRC, which said it would look into it.
While it has taken far longer than many wanted, Heady NJ has seen more affordable dispensary prices lately. The CRC was supposed to release new rules on standards. But that seems delayed, especially with two Commissioner seats being unfilled at the last few meetings.
The SEEF Tax and Business
In addition, the possibility of increasing the Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) wholesale tax has been especially contentious. Both small and big businesses are advocating for not raising it. They say they would push the cost onto price-conscious consumers. The CRC is holding town halls on the SEEF tax in January.
In a competitive market, companies would have to add it to their list of expenses. Unfortunately, that is difficult for humble entrepreneurs, especially those who were harmed by the War on Drugs, minorities, and/or women.
The prospect of funding programs in neighborhoods harmed by the War on Drugs was a big selling point of legalization.
Some adult-use cannabis tax revenue has been going to fund some programs like that already. It has also been used to fund some for smaller businesses via the NJ Economic Development Authority grants. Plus, the Business Action Center’s Cannabis Training Academy, which just celebrated its 1st year of operations helping small businesspeople and legal cannabis workers, is funded that way as well.
