been a while since I blogged here and with all the happenings I wanted to start something new on Friday @ 4:20 I'll post a blog with some of my thought about the latest New Jersey legalization news from the week
so this earlier this week I was watching some college hoops and I see the Gov. tweet something about Monmouth and I usually never do this (ok maybe one or two other times) but I fired off this tweet
gov where the #Weed at come on man ??
— njlegalize.me (@njlegalizeme) March 12, 2019
and then the next morning came the big announcement of a deal between the Murph and Dem Legislators
I’m thrilled to announce an agreement with my partners in the Legislature – @NJSenatePres, @SpeakerCoughlin, @SenatorScutari and @AnnetteQuijano – on the broad outlines of legislation to legalize adult-use marijuana.
https://t.co/Mbz6esZYvk— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 12, 2019
clearly this is all my fault.
Couple of stories about it all this week and now there's some hot committee action lined up for this Monday wild times in Trenton all heading towards a potential vote on 3/25
my initial quick thoughts after hearing the news: this bill is just a huge give away to corporate cannabis market. the facts are the current NJMMP Alternative Treatment Centers are automagically going to become adult use dispensaries. as was intended from the start. with that first mover advantage and limited competition coupled with the denial of Home Grow rights New Jersey will continue the limited marketplace framework right from medical cannabis into the new adult use market. add in the high tax rate and you have something that could have been great.. turned into a failure before it gets started.
myself I have conflicted views because there's some good things too. of course I would like to see legislation passed that would end cannabis use prosecution legalize the plant we all know can promote so much healing and I want to see people in my state take advantage of this new Industry so we'll see what happens. I do have high hopes. I am hopeful that some holdouts on the Dem side may help get some late changes made but it could be too far down the road. if we do miss this opportunity to "legalize" who knows when it would be able to happen again. the voices asking for a voter referendum or just straight decriminalization might not be wrong. but all those lobby dollars gotta pay something amiright? If you're into that sort of thing you can read the copy of the updated Assembly Bill 4497 here.
some other news this week on the Town Marijuana Ban front as Brick bans recreational sales. This comes just a week after the proposed Jersey Shore Theraputic Health Care dispensary location changed plans and now is looking to move forward with only a cultivation facility in Brick. hopefully a non-issue if adult use does pass but this highlghts the lack of medical Marijuana availability currently in some areas of the state that are underserved like us at the Jersey Shore.
more on the paid anti-cannabis lobbying scandals issure to be learned in the coming weeks as previously noted Point Beach mayor Stephen Reid was found to be hiding the fact he was working as a paid lobbyist for NJ-Ramp while holding elected office now we find out from our friend Patrick at rabblerouser.blog that former Assembly Person Mary Pat Angelini is actually the president of NJ-Ramp a big no no. bad week for anti-pot folks.
thanks for reading along. if you made it this far I'd like to ask you to register an account (twitter signup) here and speak your mind about the issues in the comment sections. I love meeting and engaging with everyone on twitter and I will continue to do that but I'm looking to shift some of the focus back here to the website to that end this is a start in that effort bringing you more original content.
of course I'm also working on some new features and njlegalize.me merchandise coming soon. those early adopters reap the (free) rewards :)
have a great weekend out there stoners spring has sprung get outside and soak up some sun!
