Keith Straub, who in 1970 founded the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, is like the godfather of the entire industry. He says New Jersey needs to make sure there’s room for the little guy.
“I would urge people, don’t limit them. Let the free market work its way,” said Straub. “Now, there will be losers. There will be some people who get a license and spend money to open a business, but over a year or two, they may go out of business. But that’s what a free market is about. We don’t want government picking the winners and losers, so I would urge New Jersey to open it up. Don’t limit the number of licenses.”
None of the bills under consideration in New Jersey are that liberal, and so the concern remains: how’s the minority, veteran or female-owned business supposed to get a foot in the door?
“When it comes to legislation, when it comes to policy, especially in New Jersey, is to make sure that we have a policy that includes provisions to help these communities, to make sure that people who are currently incarcerated can have their records sealed and expunged, so we have lower barriers of entry to the industry,” said Nelson Guerrero, co-founder of Cannabis Culture Association. “We make sure there’s an equity program involved to make sure people that look like us are getting involved in this legally correct.”