What Does the New Jersey Cannabis Ballot Question Actually Mean – and What are the Next Steps?
Many in the public operate on the misunderstanding that January 1, 2021 brings with it a whole new bundle of rights for citizens.
Many in the public operate on the misunderstanding that January 1, 2021 brings with it a whole new bundle of rights for citizens.
With less than a month before Election Day, the campaign to legalize marijuana in New Jersey is finally heating up.
Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Nick Scutari and a panel of activists on Thursday evening joined an online panel discussing the constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana, the first of three questions on the ballot this year.
Murphy, who included marijuana legalization on his 2017 gubernatorial campaign platform, has long argued that legalizing weed is an issue of social justice.
New Jersey looks set to be the next state to legalize marijuana. It's on the ballot come Election Day on November 3, the polls are looking good, and while it's not the only state with marijuana legalization on the ballot, the others—Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota—are all out West, and the Garden State should beat them by a few hours.
Call it a tale of two marijuana bills and two New Jersey senators at loggerheads over which marijuana bill should be given priority. Add on top accusations of racial unfairness in the state Senate, given the dearth of Black senators as committee chairs at a time when criminal justice reform is taking center stage in Trenton.
Sen. Ron Rice, D-Essex, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and one of five Black senators in the 40-member Senate, contends that Black Senate Democrats—himself included—are being treated unfairly.
The chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus wants State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) to give up his position at the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee over a refusal to move a marijuana decriminalization bill.
I have requested a meeting with Senate President Sweeney and Judiciary Committee Chair Scutari to determine what motivation may be behind this blatant disregard for the 100 New Jerseyans – mostly poor, young and minority – who are arrested for small amount marijuana offenses every single day.
State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Newark) accused Democratic legislative leaders of intentionally stalling a marijuana decriminalization bill Tuesday, claiming outside interests were behind the delays.
A coalition of Senators introduced legislation (Senate Bill 2535) to decriminalize the personal possession of marijuana for adults.
Under this proposal, activities involving the possession and/or distribution of up to one pound of cannabis would be subject to a written warning. A subsequent offense would be punishable by a civil fine of no more than $25.00.
Background
The state Health Department this week amended the medicinal marijuana program to serve patients and inhibit the spread of the coronavirus by letting dispensaries make curbside sales and cutting the registration fee for caregivers to $20.
These accommodations will help. More changes are on the way.
get your FL Office of Medical Marijuana Use card!
get your MD Medical Cannabis Commission card!