Councilwoman Cindy Matute-Brown hosted a forum about medical marijuana at West Orange High School on Sept. 25, providing the public an opportunity to hear from panelists about the updated state medical marijuana laws and how they will affect zoning laws in West Orange. On the panel was Mark Moon, an attorney for the township; Monica Taing, a doctor of pharmacy; Hugh O’Beirne, president of the New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association; and Charlana McKeithen, executive director of Garden State NORML, a regional chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
With New Jersey on the brink of approving the most detailed marijuana reform bill of any state, some observers say three women were integral to getting the process this far.
They include Assemblymember Annette Quijano, the prime sponsor of the legalization bill in that chamber; Dara Servis, the executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association; and Dianna Houenou, described as an effective advocate as part of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ), particularly as part of the New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform.
Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski says that he is concerned traffic accidents could go up under so-called "drugged driving."
"Marijuana is not a benign drug. There are negative consequences and as a result of that our concerns are great. In particular, how it’s going to impact our neighborhoods,” Zebrowski says.
State leaders have made significant progress on plans to legalize marijuana in New Jersey and could move forward on new legislation as early as next week.
Several sources close to the negotiations told NJ.com that an updated legalization bill and renewed debate in the state Legislature could come “any day now," though when exactly a new measure might be introduced and when a vote could be held remains unclear. Also unclear: whether it would pass a vote.
Now, the DPA-led New Solutions Campaign, a broad coalition of New Jersey-based advocacy groups, is on the brink of helping enact a new law that would allow broad legal cannabis sales in the state.
The New Jersey coalition has focused on civil rights and an equitable approach to the cannabis industry. The political wind is at their back: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ran on legalizing cannabis during his 2017 campaign, framing it as a Civil Rights-era wrong.