The Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey will be testifying at an historic Senate Judiciary Committee meeting regarding the legalization of marijuana in NJ. You can easily contact the committee via the link below, provided by New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform (NJUMR)

https://www.njumr.org/index.php?cID=302

NORML is also hosting a petition to the committee here:

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51046/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15336

Sativa Cross will be live podcasting the event from Trenton:

www.ustream.tv/channel/sativa-cross

 Asbury Park, NJ – A special weekend-long cannabis-themed event will be taking place at various venues throughout the city of Asbury Park September 11–13. Called Higher Ground because of its emphasis on empowering cannabis consumers through education and connectivity, the event includes a series of informative talks and social gatherings. It is free to attend and is endorsed by the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ).
 

Higher Ground was created in part as a reaction to city officials’ admirable declaration of support for cannabis and their passage of a resolution calling on Governor Christie and the State Legislature to legalize, tax, and regulate it.

After a welcome gathering on Friday night, Saturday’s events will kick off at noon and include a walkable circuit around Cookman Avenue of venues where speakers will be giving talks throughout the day on topics pertaining to medical marijuana and the future of cannabis culture in New Jersey. Saturday night will feature a special networking event as well as hand-picked musical performances. Speakers will continue through 4 p.m. on Sunday the 13th.

Higher Ground is an independent initiative uniting local businesses with speakers and artists. The purpose of the event is “empowerment through education”—enabling all comers to obtain accurate information about cannabis and the changing legal landscape in New Jersey and across the country. Featured speakers include CMMNJ Executive Director Ken Wolski, activist and Liberty Bell Temple III proprietor Ed Forchion (aka NJWeedman), Geno Caignon of NJ NORML’s South Jersey division, Rowyn Capers from NJ NORML’s Women’s Alliance, and Help Not Handcuffs founder Randy Thompson, who delivered the presentation to the Asbury Park City Council that resulted in their declaration of support for cannabis law reform.

The event is free and open to the public. For those who wish to stay in town overnight there is a range of hotels to suit most every budget, and prices are generally lower after Labor Day weekend. Those who wish to participate can visit www.HigherGroundFest.com for updates and location announcements as well as the event’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/events/432809406907049.

For more info please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 The Coalition for Medical Marijuana - NJ is excited to partner with the Drug Policy Alliance for the International Drug Reform Conference taking place this November in Washington, D.C. The Reform conference brings together allies and activists who believe the war on drugs does "more harm than good." The biennial event will take place November 18th through 21st with excellent speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities for drug policy reformers from around the world.

More details about the conference can be found at their website: http://www.reformconference.org/

These phone scripts have been specifically designed to "leave a message".  You can edit to your liking, but keep the opening and closing the same, please.  There are 4 scripts to choose from.

#1: Hi, my name is _____. I am from _____ NJ. Please support bill #_____. This bill will support _____. It will also help NJ law enforcement and our judicial system to focus on violent crime, increase public safety and crime with actual victims. This, alone, will save our state millions by significantly reducing multi-million dollar expenditures needed to enforce cannabis prohibition, which, by any objective metric, has failed. Over 50% of residents in NJ agree that arrests for cannabis must stop. Can I count on you to support bill _____? My phone number is ___-____, if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you on this very important issue.

#2: Hello, my name is _____, and I'm from _____, NJ. Please support bill# _____ . According to recent polls, almost 60% of New Jerseyans think that cannabis consumers should no longer go to jail for possessing cannabis for personal use. A criminal record for this victim-less crime can prevent people from obtaining: employment, student loans, and can have other damaging, unintended consequences on a person's life. Can I count on your support for bill# _____ ? My phone number is _____ - _____ . I look forward to hearing from you on this very important issue.

#3: Hello, my name is _____ . I am from _____ , NJ. Please vote "yes" on bill# _____ . Taking officers "off the street" to process non-violent cannabis possessions diverts them away from REAL public safety. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, in 2012 there ere almost 5,000 people were arrested for drug-related offences (source:http://www.njsp.org/info/ucr2012/index.html - not necessary to speak this part, this is for your reference - and in case you get a call back, you can open it and read from it). That same year, it is reported that a large percentage of murders, rapes, burglaries and robberies went UNSOLVED. Please help our law enforcement officers to solve those crimes by not diverting them to the failed war on drugs. Can I count on you to support bill# _____? My phone number is ___-____. I look forward to hearing from you on this very important issue.

#4: Hello, my name is _____. I am from _____, NJ. Please support bill# _____. According to the FBI's UCR (uniform crime reports), NJ spends over $20M annually arresting non-violent cannabis consumers for personal possession. With our budget problems and vulnerable economy, this can be counted as "misplaced resources", that can be better spent on our crumbling infrastructure, schools and other budgetary needs. End the taxpayer's burden by chasing non-violent cannabis consumers. Free up our officers and the entire judicial system to focus on real public safety. Can I count on you to vote "yes" on bill# _____? My phone number is ___-____. I look forward to hearing from you on this very important issue.

Understand, DE politicians have said, in the past, that "we need phone numbers, or it doesn't count". CB Delaware realized this was a sleazy attempt to avoid the issue. Since they only have limited time, as do all state legislators, to introduce bills and get them through their system, time is a factor. This happened right before the close of the legislative year, so they had to wait almost an entire year to get recognized again. We can learn from other states and the mistakes they have made.  Thank you to our neighbors for sharing this information with us.