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.
“These women are trailblazers,” said Kelli Hykes, the director of government relations for Weedmaps. Each in their own ways, these three women not only helped move New Jersey to the brink of legalization, but were part of a process that has kept issues of social justice at the forefront.
“Details can get lost,” Hykes said. “That hasn't been the case in New Jersey in large part because of these very thoughtful women who have inserted themselves into what has been a boy's club.”
Many men and women have worked and advocated for fundamental change in New Jersey's legislation for years. The landscape shifted dramatically with the election of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2017.