3. New Jersey must legalize home cultivation
The Garden State is the one of only 2 adult-use states that doesn’t allow individuals to grow their own cannabis. And lawmakers aren’t just bringing shame to their state’s nickname with that choice. They’re also hurting medical patients and responsible adults who already voted in droves for legal weed.
Nick Scutari helped get legalization passed in New Jersey. But he’s also one of the biggest opponents blocking home cultivation. Scutari claims that law enforcement said homegrows feed illicit markets in states like Colorado.
But most experts say that doesn’t happen. “More mature markets like Colorado, California, and Oregon have shown is that just simply is not the case,” said DeVaughn Ward, a senior attorney for the national cannabis policy group, Marijuana Policy Project.
Chris Goldstein, a local NORML organizer, told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “[homegrow] is safe. It’s cost effective. And once you learn a few basic techniques, it’s just like growing tomatoes — relatively easy.”
Home cultivation can also protect consumers from price-fixing and corporate monopolies in medical and recreational markets. But until NJ’s homegrow weed laws change, growing 9 plants can get you 3-5 years and a $25,000 fine, growing 10-49 can get you 5-10 years and a $150,000 fine, and growing 50 or more plants can land you 10-20 years with a $300,000 fine.