In anticipation of the state of New Jersey legalizing marijuana for recreational use, a statewide group is establishing an organization of responsible retailers to seek economic growth and jobs, advocate for members and help them navigate the challenges facing this emerging industry.
The New Jersey Marijuana Retailers Association – NJMRA.org – is ready to work with other stakeholders to shepherd responsible business practices and opportunities in this emerging industry.
“Our goal is to have our members represent the most respected, business-focused and compliance-driven class of the licensed, marijuana-retailer businesses,” explains Juan Carlos Negrin, president of the association. “The NJMRA was formed with a mission to advocate, educate and to deal with legislative, licensing and regulatory issues affecting the marijuana retail industry at the state level.”
The New Jersey Marijuana Retailers Association sees substantial economic opportunity for a number of industries, small-business owners, and entrepreneurs. These include farmers, growers and harvesters, the trucking industry, and suppliers, wholesalers and retailers.
The time is right for the NJMRA to form, due to administrations changing in Trenton this January and residents clearly in favor of legal recreational use. According to a Quinnipiac University poll in September, “Garden State voters support, 59 to 38 percent, allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use.”
“With this polling data showing strong support to take marijuana sales out of the black market,” says Lorna O’Hara, Association Director, “we are forming this association to ensure not only that the retailers have a seat at the table but also that their voice is heard. At the same time, we are setting the highest standard for those business owners who choose to be retailers in this industry.”
New Jersey, where medical marijuana is legal, would join seven states and the District of Columbia in legalizing recreational use: Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington state, Alaska, Maine, California, and Nevada. According to Businessinsider.com, the industry is on track to post $20.2 billion in sales by 2021.
By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
When Democrat Phil Murphy defeated Republican Kim Guadagno in the governor’s race Tuesday night, a wide array of entrepreneurs and elected officials knew they could march ahead with something brand new in New Jersey:
Legalizing recreational marijuana.
Murphy campaigned on a promise to sign a bill to make pot legal, something that would usher in a new market that could be worth $1.3 billion.
And, of course, many of you are awaiting the day when you can legally light up in the Garden State.
Full story: NJ.com
by Erin Petenko, The Star-Ledger
Gov.- elect Phi l Murphy’s vision for New Jersey includes weed, and lots of it.
The Democrat has promised to legalize recreational marijuanause for people age 21 and older within the first 100 days of his administration. And if he and the state Legislature play their cards right, the price of pot could plunge, according to historical price data and national experts.
But the path to cheaper marijuana prices is unlikely to be straight andnarrow.
“New Jersey may fall into the camp of states with a strict market,” said Adam Orens, co-founder of Marijuana Policy Group. “And with strict markets, prices canbe an issue.”
Marijuana remains illegal in most states, and that means collecting reliable information on prices and price changes can be difficult. The best sources currently rely on crowdsourcing — people who buy and sell marijuana on the blackmarket, reporting their own prices.
Full story: The Star-Ledger
By
As the smoke clears from the election, lawmakers, criminal justice reform advocates, and lobbyists are preparing for a greener Garden State with legalized marijuana.
New Jersey could enact legislation to legalize and tax marijuana as soon as April or May, said state Sen. Nick Scutari (D-Union), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Proponents say legalizing and taxing marijuana — a central part of Governor-elect Phil Murphy’s agenda — would bring hefty revenues into New Jersey’s budget, provide savings for law enforcement and courts, and potentially expunge marijuana convictions and clear pending charges for low-level drug offenses.
But crafting a new regime of laws and regulations around recreational marijuana is likely to be a time-consuming process for the Legislature. New Jersey could be the first state to legalize the drug without first decriminalizing it, and there are lingering questions about what legalization could mean for New Jersey and when the drug might be available for sale to recreational users.
Full story: Observer.com
By Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
TRENTON — A new poll shows a majority of New Jersey voters approve of increasing the state’s minimum wage, legalizing marijuana and requiring background checks for all gun buyers.
The Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday found 74 percent of voters approved hiking the sate’s $8.44 an hour minimum wage, while 24 percent disapprove. That includes a 50 to 46 percent approval rate from Republicans.
By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Although a topic in Trenton for three years, the campaign to legalize marijuana in New Jersey officially began in June when a Senate committee discussed how the potentially billion-dollar industry should be regulated.
So what will it take for you to be able to legally buy recreational pot in New Jersey?
Gov. Chris Christie is vehemently opposed to legalizing marijuana and he has six months left on his final term. And the election for governor will matter for supporters of legalizing pot: Democratic candidate Phil Murphy supports legalization but Republican candidate Kim Guadagno does not.
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