Assembly members Benjie Wimberly and Annette Quijano introduced
A 5211, which “updates and clarifies recent legislation passed by both Houses of the Legislature addressing cannabis legalization, and marijuana and hashish decriminalization.”
On Thursday, the
Senate Judiciary Committee released an identical bill,
S3320, passing it 7-3.
The discussion in the Assembly lasted less than 15 minutes. The first comments came from
Joe Johnson of ACLU-NJ, who began by saying, “I had prepared remarks this morning to express our opposition to the scheme on how to deal with minors caught with possession of cannabis. Fortunately, it seems that the amendments that we were just given access to kind of clear up a lot of our concerns.”
HB 89 will expand the approved conditions list for medical cannabis to include “moderate to severe insomnia.”
HB 90 will allow medical cannabis shops in the state, known as “alternative treatment centers,” to “acquire and use in manufacturing hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) isolate.”
HB 163 will require medical cannabis shops to “prepare information regarding the risk of cannabis use during pregnancy,” and it will require state health officials to “prepare a brochure relative to the risk of cannabis use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.”
UFCW settles unionization battle with Harvest and High Times (Have-a-Heart).
Nearly one year after
National Labor Relations Board, it has settled its dispute with
Shortage may prompt NJ to accept out-of-state teacher licenses
TRENTON Faced with a teacher shortage that persisted for years in some areas and is growing during the pandemic, lawmakers are considering having the state recognize out-of-state teaching certificates to make recruiting easier for school districts.
A bill has been advanced by both the Senate and Assembly education committees that would grant reciprocity for out-of-state licenses. It awaits votes by the full Legislature, which could conceivably come in January but won’t necessarily be scheduled.
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, D-Union, said New Jersey faced shortages of teachers in some disciplines even before the pandemic.
By TAPINTO UNION STAFF
December 20, 2020 at 4:56 PM
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Credits: TAPinto Union
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Credits: TAPinto Union
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Credits: TAPinto Union
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Credits: TAPinto Union
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Pro-life protesters outside Legislative District 20 offices on Saturday
Credits: TAPinto Union
Back and forth from legislators to voters
The push to legalize marijuana in New Jersey has been through stops and starts over the last three years. Over two-thirds of voters supported legalizing marijuana during the 2020 election, but the measure only wound up on the ballot after efforts to legalize weed through the legislative process stalled last year.
Last December, over two-thirds of legislators voted to place the issue on the ballot as a constitutional amendment exactly one year and one day ago.
But legalizing marijuana through the ballot has brought legislative headaches, especially after lawmakers waited until after Election Day to begin discussing them.