One year after NJ adult-use marijuana law, still no legal sales - New Jersey 101.5 FM
TRENTON – One year ago Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the law legalizing the adult use of recreational marijuana in New Jersey – but don’t run out to a state-regulated dispensary to celebrate.
Sales still haven’t begun though could be getting close. Applications for new recreational retailers will begin to be accepted by the state next month, starting a months-long review process, but sales are going to begin first at medical marijuana dispensaries that get certified for an expansion.
When that will happen remains to be seen. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission meets on Thursday but doesn’t have the recreational expansions on its agenda. At the CRC's late January meeting, executive director Jeff Brown said most of the certifications still had “major deficiencies" still being resolved.
“And the one that pops up over and over and over again and by far is the most prevalent is a lack of municipal approval,” Brown said.
According to state law and CRC regulations, alternative treatment centers cannot expand unless they have approval from their host municipality, enough supply of marijuana for both their medical patients and the recreational market and the operational capacity to ensure medical patients aren’t hurt by the expansion. Brown said ATCs have known what’s required, even before getting guidance in November.
“There’s a level of frustration here at the commission, certainly with me, certainly with staff and others, that there’s an effort to pressure us to move forward in a way that’s not compliant with the law,” Brown said. “And that’s just simply not going to happen.”
“When we turn on recreational sales and there are limited outlets to get recreational cannabis, they are going to be crowded,” he said. “And we want to see specific measures to ensure that patients continue to be served first.”
Bill Caruso, an attorney and founding member of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, said a lot of arbitrary dates have been set in the rollout of legal recreational marijuana in New Jersey, all the way back to Murphy saying as a candidate that it would be legal within his first 100 days as governor.
While some people have expressed frustration that sales haven’t begun a year after the law was signed, the CRC says the anniversary was never an official start date. Caruso said it’s not surprising that the wheels of government run slower than people would like but that the ATCs are getting close.
“They’re working through both their state regulatory approvals and their local municipal approvals, and I think there’s been some challenges particularly as towns are grappling with this new concept, working through some of the details. But that is happening, so we’re close,” Caruso said.
“I think we’re in the position of we’re within weeks of hopefully potentially having the adult-use sales begin in our state, tax revenue to flow and all the like,” he said.
Michael Symons is the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at [email protected]
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How to get from Monmouth/Ocean to the Holland Tunnel without paying tolls
Sometimes even your GPS doesn't know the back way to certain places.
You're going to want to utilize Route 9 north, so if you live anywhere below Sayreville, try to navigate your way there.
Route 9 is known for being a bit of a headache during commuting hours, so the closer to Old Bridge to hop on, the better. Once you are near the Route 18 interchange, Route 9 becomes a 3 lane road, which is much easier to navigate. Routes 34 and Route 35 may also come in handy here.
Take Route 9 north until you reach the entrance to the northbound Garden State Parkway. Obviously the Parkway is a toll road, but fear not!
Once you get on the Parkway, you'll be just a few miles from the Driscoll Bridge. It's shocking there isn't a fatal accident on this bridge every single day.
As you cross the Driscoll, you'll start seeing signs for the New Jersey Turnpike. Go ahead and give the middle finger to the entrance and continue northbound on the Parkway.
The price to drive the Turnpike from Exit 11: The Garden State Parkway to the Holland Tunnel is $7.40. For commuters, it's the same going back. Imagine paying $14.80 per day to drive 20 miles each way? No thanks.
Continue along the Parkway until you reach Exit 140, US 22 / Route 82 East (Hillside). You've now successfully dodged all Parkway tolls, exiting about 4 miles before the Union toll plaza.
Follow signs for US 22 East. Stay in the middle lane as it gets a bit confusing for the uninitiated. There are also a ton of fast food options and gas stations on this route, by the way.
As you cruise along, you'll notice the back of Newark Airport to your right. Congratulations! You also just figured out how to get to the Newark Airport without paying a toll. It’s warranted: Give the airport the middle finger too. You're beating the system ... and Newark Airport stinks.
Back to focusing on the road. Before you know it, you're on the Pulaski Skyway, one of the ugliest and most neglected roadways in North America.
Soon enough you'll be in Jersey City. You will want to remain in the left lane, as 1-9 veers off to the right, and the road you're on becomes Route 139 East. The sign will say Hoboken / Holland Tunnel.
The lane situation is absolute chaos. You've got two three-lane roads separated by a divider eventually merging into one six-lane road where people are doing the Jersey Slide like it’s 1978. Straight ahead is the Holland Tunnel.
*The Jersey Slide is a driving maneuver, common in NJ, where you travel from the farthest lane all the way to the other side in one quick motion to make a turn. Other variations include getting on the highway and immediately crossing the lanes of traffic necessary to get in the left lane as soon as possible.
If you are planning on going out in Hoboken, cut a left. For Jersey City, go right. And if you're headed into the Big Apple by way of your vehicle, all the best to you. You will have to have to pay a $16 toll for that crossing.
source: https://nj1015.com/one-year-after-nj-adult-use-marijuana-law-still-no-legal-sales/
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