After New Jersey voted to legalize REC on election day, Gov. Phil Murphy refused to sign a REC bill on grounds that it didn’t include fines for underage users. Several observers suggested to me that it’s a bizarre rationale.
REC in New Jersey is widely expected to set off a “domino effect” across the northeast, but it could easily be a year or more before the state’s first legal sale. I spoke to two attorneys — Vicente Sederberg‘s Jennifer Cabrera and Hoban‘s Steve Schain — about what to watch for in the Garden State and across the Hudson River in New York.
Here’s a status update for legalization in two big states likely to set the tone in the northeast.
WeedWeek
- Politico explains why New Jersey’s REC bill collapsed.
- Meanwhile, REC license applications are now available in Arizona.
Plus: PR star Rosie Mattio says the east coast could determine the future of cannabis branding.
Rolling Stone
Quick Hit
- This week several companies and industries said they would withhold campaign contributions from members of Congress who objected to certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. I reached out to the National Cannabis Industry Association to see if they’ve established a policy or recommendations for the industry. No word yet, but I’ll keep you posted.
Bloomberg
