The NJ Cannabis Business Association (NJCBA) hosted a webinar with Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22-Union) on behalf of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) for Governor and endorsed legal 1 plant homegrow and a State Bank for cannabis entrepreneurs.
Leading cannabis advocate Bill Caruso led the discussion with Scutari on a Zoom meeting. He noted there is an election in November, and Governor Phil Murphy (D) is term-limited.
Scutari said she has spoken with Sherrill at length on New Jersey Cannabis policy issues.
“I have my own thoughts on it,” he added.
Scutari noted few Republicans supported his cannabis legalization efforts and didn’t expect them to be receptive to cannabis reform if Republican Jack Ciatrelli wins.
Home Grow Legalization Demanded
Caruso noted the persistent demand for cannabis home grow legalization, which the NJCBA has endorsed.
“We’re not against home grow. But we want to continue to see the industry get off the ground first….,” Scutari said.
According to the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), the licensed industry made a billion dollars last year.
He repeated old concerns from a trip to Colorado in 2016, when they didn’t have a small plant limit about how the underground legacy market would benefit.
NJ Senate Majority Caucus Chair Troy Singleton (D-7-Burlington) and Majority Whip Vin Gopal (D-11-Monmouth) have been making progress gathering sponsors to support the legalization of home growing 8 cannabis plants by medical patients.
State Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-5-Camden) is the latest to sign on, along with Health Committee Chair Joe Vitale (D-19-Middlesex) and Republican Minority Leader Tony Bucco (R-25-Morris).
1 Plant Home Grow and Regulatory Process Endorsed
“A person would have to apply and receive for a plant… which they would have to certify is for them and be subject to scrutiny and inspection. We could do it. But it’s going to be highly, very, very regulated …,” Scutari argued. “I don’t see any other way….”
Heady NJ knows several people who are growing at home now because the State does not seem to want to make a martyr out of someone growing a small number of plants.
Since the movement has no one to rally around, it’s harder to advance the cause.
Scutari Endorses Descheduling and State Bank for Cannabis Companies
Caruso noted that many in cannabis are unhappy about federal marijuana prohibition. He asked if the State could help advance reform.
Scutari noted that Governor Phil endorsed launching a State Bank, which did not become a reality, unfortunately.
“I thought … if we had a limited State Bank where people could use and benefit from all the banking needs that they have backed by the State of New Jersey…,” he explained.
On the federal level, Scutari endorsed “taking marijuana off” the Schedule of Controlled Substances.
Many in the cannabis legalization movement. including social justice activists, independent companies, some Multi-State Operators (MSOs), and Heady NJ similarly have endorsed what is known as descheduling.
Scutari Eager for Crackdown on Underground Legacy Market
Scutari explained how unhappy he is with underground legacy operators.
“I introduced a couple draconian-type bills recently to get this topic moving,” he noted. “I wasn’t married to any particular parts of those bills other than I wanted the conversation to start.”
“Some of it is over-regulated…,” Scutari admitted. “We gotta try to fix some of those things.”
He said he wants a State Task Force to crack down on illegal sales, but did not say Sherrill was fully for it.
“It’s never going to be completely gone,” Scutari later admitted about the underground legacy market.
NJ Cannabis Industry Thoughts
Caruso asked Scutari what he thought about the New Jersey cannabis industry.
“It was painfully expensive for folks to get into the industry,” Scutari noted.
He blamed himself, the legislature, and the CRC for overregulation.
“These people in these businesses just don’t have money to burn. And we treated them that way in the beginning. Hopefully that has changed somewhat,” Scutari noted.
He alluded to the very competitive nature of the market.
Scutari explained changing rules around advertising is an interesting area to explore.
“We didn’t have that originally,” he said.
Advertising cannabis products on formats children might see, like billboards, is not allowed in New Jersey.
However, advertising in formats children aren’t expected to see, like Heady NJ, is allowed.
Intoxicating Hemp Concerns
Caruso asked about regulating intoxicating hemp.
“We gotta go further. Intoxicating hemp is like cannabis in many ways…,” Scutari said. “…They kind of thew out a lot of regulations we put in there.”
CRC Questions
“Who should be a candidate for Commissioner on the CRC?” Caruso asked.
Former Vice Chair Sam Delgado retired, and Maria Del-Cid Kosso got a promotion in the Health Department and left the CRC in June 025.
“I’ve heard complaints over the years about the adversarial type of feeling that the industry has against the Commission. I would absolutely want to see that stopped,” Scutari explained.
“…They are going to be who they are,” he said. “I think we can make improvements with those folks. If those folks are not going to, ya know, reflect Governor Sherill’s kind of thought process on it, then I’m certain she’ll consider going in a different direction.”
He noted one of the replacement Commissioners is in limbo.
“Even though the legislation was specifically written and amended to allow him to sit on the Commission,” Scutari added.
Scutari’s former Policy Aide, Harris Laufer, is a Councilman in Springfield in Union County. He was appointed to the CRC earlier in summer 2025.
The Speaker of the NJ Assembly is allowed to make the 5th pick. Former Commissioner Sam Delgado was chosen by Craig Coughlin (D-19-Middlesex). Coughlin hasn’t indicated who he wants to replace Delgado.
Caruso noted they plan to work to advance cannabis legislation in the lame duck session between the November 2025 Election Day and when the new Governor takes office in January 2026.
