The Garden State’s voters approved a constitutional amendment to legalize personal marijuana use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in February of 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed a cannabis legalization bill that became law. It took a while but finally, in August the regs were set by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to allow for cannabis use for people 21 years of age or older if it is being used on private property and is six ounces or less. Dianna Houenou is the chair of the Commission and has gone on record suggesting retail sales won’t begin until 2022. Previous to the CRC she was Policy Counsel with the New Jersey branch of the American Civil Liberties Union-NJ. One of the reasons for the law is to combat unjust incarceration, mostly of people of color. “Our current marijuana prohibition laws have failed every test of social justice, which is why for years I’ve strongly supported the legalization of adult-use cannabis,” Murphy had said. “Maintaining a status quo that allows tens of thousands, disproportionately people of color, to be arrested in New Jersey each year for low-level drug offenses is unjust and indefensible.

Mmp News Author, Medical Marijuana Program Connection, 12/28/2021 07:36:00

Open article: https://mmpconnect.com/crc-rules-will-govern-marijuana-use-in-new-jersey/

A Republican Indiana lawmaker who serves in House leadership has announced she’ll be introducing a bill to legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical use in the upcoming legislative session. Rep. Cindy Ziemke (R), who has worked to raise awareness about substance misuse since her sons struggled with addiction, says she recognizes the obstacles of enacting cannabis reform in the conservative legislature. But she’s hoping that leadership will at least allow a committee hearing on her forthcoming proposal. The measure would legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older and set up a regulated system of sales, mirroring neighboring Michigan’s marijuana law. It would also establish a medical cannabis program in the state. While the text is not publicly available yet, the lawmaker told Indianapolis Business Journal that the bill would create a state commission to regulate the market, issue cannabis business licenses, and set a tax on marijuana sales with revenue supporting public health initiatives. Ziemke says that part of the reason she decided to sponsor the reform legislation is that she believes it will help divert people from the illicit market where they might be exposed to other drugs. One of her sons, who is eight years in recovery from heroin addiction, encouraged her to pursue the reform for that reason. “So much of it also comes from when I called my son and I said, you know, ‘what do you think about me authoring this cannabis bill?’ And he said, ‘You should do it.’ He said, ‘because you know those folks will go to a dealer to get the pot and could end up leaving one day with meth,’” Ziemke said. “I want a safe product that’s out there that’s controlled.” The lawmaker also emphasized the importance of appropriating revenue for public health purposes.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 12/27/2021 12:11:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/indiana-gop-lawmaker-to-file-marijuana-legalization-bill-as-democrats-step-up-reform-push/

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said, “Democrats, particularly the Congressional Black Caucus,” are to be blamed for cannabis still being a Schedule I drug. By Jelena Martinovic As we approach the end of another year that failed to see marijuana legalized on the federal level, there’s a bit of blame-shifting going on between the leading parties. According to a GOP congressman, Democrats are responsible for Congress’ inability to pass a federal marijuana legalization bill, Marijuana Moment writes. What Happened Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said last week during an episode of his Firebrand podcast that “Democrats, particularly the Congressional Black Caucus,” are to be blamed for cannabis still being a Schedule I drug — considered to be more dangerous than opioids, while offering no medical benefits. He’s been critical of Democrats who’ve insisted that legalization measures contain specific equity provisions poised to address the consequences of the War on Drugs, emphasizing that they might be unnecessary and only holding up the adoption of long-anticipated and bipartisan-supported federal cannabis reform. Why It Matters Gaetz was one of few House Republicans who voted in favor of the MORE Act last year, a piece of legislation that could effectively decriminalize marijuana on a federal level.

Benzinga Staff Writer, The Fresh Toast, 12/27/2021 12:02:00

Open article: https://thefreshtoast.com/marijuana-legislation/gop-congressman-says-democrats-are-to-blame-for-marijuana-legalization-delay/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gop-congressman-says-democrats-are-to-blame-for-marijuana-legalization-delay