The election to become the next Governor of New Jersey was won by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), who believes in cannabis homegrow.
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She defeated former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli 56 percent to 43 percent, according to NBC.
Many polls portrayed the race as a lot closer.
Sherrill endorsed both adult-use and medical home grow in the competitive Democratic primary in June. She also repeated such supported when asked on CBS. In stark contrast, incumbent Governor Phil Murphy (D) has never endorsed homegrow legalization.
Sherrill was more likely than Ciattarelli to continue the steady progress made by the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) and its Chair Dianna Houenou and NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22-Union) in the Senate than Ciattarelli.
Neither candidate has spoken about cannabis much in their campaign rhetoric. But voters seem to have been more concerned about inflation, prices, and Donald Trump’s actions as a very conservative Republican President.
In her victory speech, Sherrill spoke broadly about the need to increase liberty and prosperity, the State’s motto.
NJ Cannabis Homegrow Politics
Unfortunately, many cannabis advocates have several issues with Scutari. His longstanding opposition to legalizing growing cannabis at home enrages grassroots advocates. Scutari opposes it despite championing legal cannabis.
Several cannabis advocates have thought him too close to those representing the interests of large corporate Multi-State Operators (MSOs).
However, Scutari did say he would allow medical homegrowing of one cannabis plant. He also recently told the NJ CannaBusiness Association (NCBA) he wants to launch a State Bank to help cannabis entrepreneurs.
The Assembly district mates of home grow legalization champions in the NJ Senate, Vin Gopal (D-11-Monmouth) and Troy Singleton (D-7-Burlington), won their re-elections in swing districts. The Democratic Party picked up other Assembly seats in Republican districts. That could help the cause.
The mainstream Politico thinks more homegrow progress is closer now too.
Homegrow has been hard to advance. That’s partially because no one is getting arrested for growing a small number of plants at home when Heady NJ knows it is happening. The State might realize it might make a martyr out of someone they think is a gangster.
While becoming a martyr is a tragedy, it can help an overall cause.
NJ Cannabis Policy and Mikie Sherrill
Along with home grow, the next four years under Governor-Elect Sherill will also likely see the fight to increase equity and diversity in the NJ cannabis market continuing. It should also see more growers on the market, along with new products, and new cannabis lounges in North Jersey after they debuted in South Jersey.
More growers should help with prices.
Intoxicating hemp, the smoke shops selling it, and hemp seltzer drinks are also hot topics.
The NJ-CRC and the Future
The NJ-CRC has been down from 5 to 3 Commissioners for a few months. Harris Laufer, who helped Scutari push legalization, was approved by the NJ Senate to be a Commissioner. But Scutari told the NJCBA someone doesn’t like that he is a Councilman in Springfield in Union County.
NJ Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19-Middlesex) still needs to find someone to replace former NJ-CRC Vice Chair Sam Delgado.
Also, the large MSO Curaleaf is suing the NJ-CRC over labor issues. Plus, Heady NJ has heard many small businesspeople who aren’t making progress say they think the NJ-CRC is incompetent.
State Senator Shirley Turner (D-15-Mercer) recently introduced a bill to replace the NJ-CRC and make the State Police go after underground legacy operators. But no one else in the legislature is officially supporting the effort so far.
So we’ll see what happens.
The lame duck legislative session from around now in November 2025 till January 2026, when Governor-Elect Sherrill takes office and the new legislative session begins. So there might be some action then.
Cannabis and Local NJ Elections
On the local level, Sativa Cross cannabis advocate Chris Almada won his election as a Democrat to become a City Councilman in Dover in Morris County.
Cannabis businessman Russell Cline unfortunately lost his Borough Council race in Glassboro in Gloucester County while running as a Republican.
In the Hoboken mayoral race in Hudson County, there will be a run-off election in December with the two major candidates out of the initial six. The pro-cannabis At-Large Councilwoman Emily Jabour will be against the even more pro-cannabis 3rd Ward Councilwoman Mike Russo. The anti-cannabis mayoral candidate Tiffanie Fisher lost.
In Oakland in Bergen County, anti-marijuana Councilman John McCann is losing, with votes still being counted.
