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.