Brian Walsh

The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) threatened to temporarily suspend the cultivation license of the large Multi-State Operator (MSO) Columbia Care, fined others, and announced 2 Commissioners are leaving. Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs explained that Columbia Care is not following through when their workers want a union and a new contract.

The NJ Senate Judiciary Committee recently passed a bill 11-0 allowing certain medical cannabis dispensaries to operate 2 satellite dispensary locations. Valley Wellness dispensary CEO Sarah Trent and Mike Burry of the UFCW union were said to be in favor. “This just creates parity with the ordinal license holders,” bill sponsor State Senator Vin Gopal (D-11-Monmouth) argued. He seemed to allude to the 2019-2021 medical dispensary license winners needing help.

The primary to be the next NJ Governor was won on the Democratic side by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), who is pro-cannabis, while the Republican winner, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, has more mixed views. They now face each other in the Tuesday, November 4th election. Neither candidate directly discussed cannabis in their victory speeches. But they have expressed positions and views. Sherill has an “A” for her voting record in Congress from the cannabis advocacy group NORML.