Home Cultivation Of Marijuana Would Be Legalized In New Jersey Under Lawmakers’ Proposals

New Jersey lawmakers have filed two new bills that would legalize home
cultivation of marijuana in the so-called “Garden State.”

One of the measures would allow only medical cannabis patients to cultivate
the plant, while the other would cover recreational consumers as well.

Both pieces of legislation are led by Sens. Troy Singleton (D) and Vin
Gopal (D), along with additional cosponsors.

The broader measure, S2564, would allow adults aged 21 and over to grow up
to six marijuana plants for personal recreational use, with a maximum of 12
plants per household containing multiple adults.

Medical cannabis patients and their designated caregivers, meanwhile, could
grow up to 10 plants per person while also having the same 12-plant limit
for a household.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The other new proposal, which is focused only on medical cannabis, would
allow patients and their designated caregivers to grow up to four mature
and four immature marijuana plants.

Unlike the broader bill, S1578 would require patients to notify regulators
of their intent to cultivate medical cannabis at home. It also sets out
rules and timelines for how they may designate and change caregivers who
can grow on their behalf.

“It is the sponsor’s intent to expand access to medical cannabis for
registered qualifying patients who may find the medical cannabis that is
available through a medical cannabis dispensary unaffordable, or who may
otherwise benefit from the convenience of home cultivation or the ability
to readily access medical cannabis in the strain and form appropriate to
the patient’s individual treatment needs,” the bill says.

Marijuana reform advocates have long pushed for lawmakers to add home grow
option for consumers, especially medical patients, but they have faced
resistance from legislative leaders and from Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who is
set to leave office this month.

Murphy has said he’s open to the idea but has argued on multiple occasions
that the state’s adult-use marijuana market needs to further mature before
home grow is authorized.

Incoming Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill (D) stated her support for legalizing
marijuana home cultivation along with “common-sense regulations, safeguards
and limits” during last year’s gubernatorial campaign.

Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Senate president has filed a bill that would allow
marijuana companies to engage in interstate commerce, subject to certain
limitations and triggers.

Lawmakers this week also sent the governor a bill to create a psilocybin
therapy pilot program and allocate $6 million in funding to support the
effort.

New Jersey’s first marijuana consumption lounges opened up over the summer,
regulators shared information about where to find the sites and offering
tips about how to responsibly use cannabis at the licensed
businesses—including classic stoner cultural customs like “puff, puff,
pass.”

State officials have also completed the curriculum of a no-cost marijuana
training academy that’s meant to support entrepreneurs interested in
entering the cannabis industry.

*Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.*

The post Home Cultivation Of Marijuana Would Be Legalized In New Jersey
Under Lawmakers’ Proposals appeared first on Marijuana Moment.