Harding may prohibit growth, distribution of marijuana
HARDING TWP. – Should Gov. Phil Murphy opt to legalize both the growth and recreational use of marijuana, the township may turn the other cheek and forbid it.
HARDING TWP. – Should Gov. Phil Murphy opt to legalize both the growth and recreational use of marijuana, the township may turn the other cheek and forbid it.
At a time when states in New England and the nearby mid-Atlantic region are sprinting toward various styles of legalization and regulation, New Jersey’s fledgling medical marijuana industry is caught in a predicament.
Some lawmakers and advocates then set their sights on getting recreational marijuana passed by the end of June, when legislators traditionally take a summer break. It’s now looking like that deadline also will come and go.
As June 30 rapidly approaches, with little movement, it's becoming increasingly likely that legal weed will have to wait until later this year. Here's where things stand now.
State lawmakers are revising how much the state would earn from the taxation of recreational marijuana in the fiscal 2019 budget – nothing.
They’ve penciled in $60 million in state revenue from taxes on medical marijuana, according to Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-22nd District.
Scutari, who advocated for the recent expansion of the medical marijuana program, said the $0 revenue projected from recreational cannabis simply acknowledges that such uses is currently illegal – regardless of anyone’s future aims.
"We're putting this in place so there is no widespread rush to set up anything in our community," Mayor Emil Carafa said.
Edward "Lefty" Grimes, a self-styled medical marijuana activist, attended the Borough Council's session Tuesday with the hope that he might persuade it to treat medical marijuana and recreational marijuana differently.
"Who is that guy," one passerby asked.
In the minutes before his television appearance went live on News 12 New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy posed for photos with onlookers at the Asbury Park boardwalk. But not everyone knew who the tall, smiling semi-celebrity was.
"I think that's the mayor," one person said.
Among the big, blue states, New York has been wildly backward on marijuana law. That may finally be changing. Governor Andrew Cuomo – who as recently as last year touted the prohibitionist myth that marijuana is a "gateway drug" – is about to receive a report from the state's health commissioner recommending a framework for legal, regulated marijuana in New York.
You've found yourself in a marijuana dispensary – much as I did earlier this year in Portland – a display case full of legal weed right in front of you. There are buds, vape pens, cookies, even lotions.
The budtender, a friendly and knowledgeable sort, offers some advice. You ask for something simple and cheap, a joint perhaps. The budtender pulls out a few joints containing trim, or the weed that didn’t make it in the jars with the rest of the buds.
It’s $10, plus tax. Right around what you were looking to spend. You’ve got yourself a deal, budtender.
get your FL Office of Medical Marijuana Use card!
get your MD Medical Cannabis Commission card!