New Jersey On TAP
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will hold a special meeting today. When the CRC met late last month, those closely watching thought the stage would be set for adult-use sales to begin. Instead, the panel rejected eight applications from medical marijuana dispensaries, formally known as alternative treatment centers (ATC), to also sell adult recreational cannabis. Today, the commission will convene again in a special meeting, with the start of recreational sales, an item on the agenda, at the center stage once again. At the March 24 meeting, CRC Executive Director Jeff Brown said the alternative treatment centers were 100,000 pounds shy of meeting the anticipated demand for medical and adult recreational markets, which surprised those 10 ATCs.
Has the issue been fixed? Last Friday, CRC Chair Dianna Houenou told NJ Spotlight News's Reporters Roundtable that the commission was moving just fine. It was better to hold off than to start and have to stop the program because there's not enough cannabis to serve both markets.
There are expectations that this special meeting was called to start adult use in NJ. CURLF, TRSSF, VRNOF, AYRWF, & GTBIF are all potential beneficiaries of NJ starting Adult-use sales!
MD in 2023
Maryland's "Republican" governor announced on Friday that he wouldn't stand in the way of implementing marijuana legalization if voters approved the reform on the November ballot. Southern Maryland Chronicle
Last week, the MD Senate and House of Delegates approved separate measures to put a referendum before voters on whether the state should legalize marijuana and begin implementing the reform if the ballot question is approved. Both HB 1, the referendum measure, and HB 837, the implementation bill, was sponsored by Del. Luke Clippinger (D), who chaired the Judiciary Committee and led a legislative cannabis workgroup formed by House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D). The former bill places legalization on the ballot and is not subject to action by the governor because it is a constitutional amendment. HB 837, meanwhile, sets basic rules for the adult-use program if voters approve the ballot referendum. Those provisions primarily concern issues such as penalties and expungement. That bill that Hogan announced will take effect without his putting pen to paper.
OKLAHOMA REC PETITION CLEARS LEGAL HURDLE
Oklahoma is moving closer to voting on whether to legalize the sale and possession of marijuana for anyone at least 21 years old.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently rejected a challenge to a petition that would alter state law to establish a recreational market. That clears the way for supporters to ramp up their fundraising efforts and prepare to gather the roughly 96,000 signatures needed to make the November ballot. Attorney Ryan Kiesel, who has helped lead the effort, said the campaign hopes to raise at least $1 million to hire paid canvassers and begin the signature drive early next month. "Signature collection, like everything else right now, has become more expensive," Kiesel said. But… there are still two other Oklahoma referendums that could also be headed to the ballot. Those petitions would enshrine the right to use marijuana for medical or recreational purposes in the state's constitution. But they also face legal challenges, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court is yet to rule on whether they can proceed. Kiesel said they're not worrying about what's happening with those other potential referendums. Instead, they're focused on what needs to be done to get on the ballot and pass recreational legalization in November. We're excited to get past this point in the campaign so we can begin having actual conversations with voters."
