‘Weed The People’: NJ Reacts To Trump’s Big Move On Marijuana

President Donald Trump has officially called for the federal rescheduling of marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a move that has sparked a renewed debate about weed across the nation, including in New Jersey.

On Thursday, the president signed an executive order that directs the Attorney General to expedite completion of the process of shifting cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act, alongside other drugs such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine and anabolic steroids.

The proposal will still have to go through the federal government’s rulemaking process before it takes effect.

Trump’s executive order doesn't legalize weed in the United States, or impact laws in states that have legalized cannabis – such as New Jersey. However, it would make it much easier to research potential medical benefits of cannabis. Rescheduling would also allow licensed businesses to take traditional tax deductions, which would help stabilize the industry and potentially lower prices for customers.

Advocates also say it’s a powerful symbolic move that could shift the landscape in states that haven’t legalized marijuana.

New Jersey passed a medical marijuana law in 2010, which remained the only legal way for people to consume cannabis in the state for more than a decade.

Voters approved recreational marijuana for adults in November 2020. But it wasn’t legal to fire up the bong until Gov. Phil Murphy signed the official framework into law in February 2021.

New Jersey residents and visitors are only allowed to buy cannabis at a licensed dispensary. Growing marijuana at home is not permitted (see other current rules at the bottom of this article).

• See Related: Weed Arrests Have Plummeted In NJ Since Voters Legalized Marijuana
• See Related: NJ Man Gets Fresh Start After 2 Decades In Jail On Weed Conviction

“I want to emphasize that the order I am about to sign doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form, and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug,” Trump said at Thursday's news conference.

“At the same time, the facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered in some cases,” he said.

“We have people begging for me to do this,” Trump added. “People that are in great pain.”

Trump and former president Joe Biden have each supported loosening federal laws on marijuana in the past.

NEW JERSEY REACTS

Several companies that run cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey applauded Trump’s executive order, saying that it will help boost a growing industry – and the tax revenue it provides.

“Rescheduling cannabis is a historic milestone for our industry,” said David Craig of Illicit Gardens.

“It signals a long-overdue shift toward science, reason, and reality, and it opens the door to meaningful progress across research, banking, innovation and regulation,” Craig said. “This moment validates what operators, advocates, and consumers have known for years: cannabis belongs in the modern economy.”

“While there is still important work ahead, this change fundamentally reshapes how the industry can grow, invest, and operate moving forward,” Craig added.

George Archos of Verano Holdings Corp. said that rescheduling cannabis will open the door to federal reform, medical research and “normalization” for an industry that “employs hundreds of thousands of professionals and contributes billions of dollars in taxes and economic activity” every year.

“We look forward to the new opportunities rescheduling will provide cannabis businesses of all sizes, including critical banking and regulatory reforms that will unlock additional health, wellness, and economic benefits for communities nationwide,” Archos said.

Others have taken a different stance.

New Jersey Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, a Republican from the state’s 24th district, said he disagrees with the president’s decision to reschedule marijuana, which he called a “mixed bag.”

Inganamort argued that rescheduling cannabis will mostly benefit big businesses.

“To be clear, this is not legalization,” Inganamort said. “It moves marijuana from a classification comparable to heroin to one closer to ketamine. The key difference, and why I ultimately disagree with rescheduling, is that ketamine is not sold recreationally.”

Meanwhile, a group of 22 Republican U.S. senators have penned a letter to Trump, attempting to walk him back from Thursday’s executive order.

“Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age,” the lawmakers wrote.

On the flip side of the coin, some cannabis advocates are saying that Trump’s executive order doesn’t go far enough.

“It wasn’t long ago that federal officials were threatening to seize doctors' medical licenses just for discussing medical cannabis with their patients,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

“This directive certainly marks a long overdue change in direction,” Armentano said.

“But while such a move potentially provides some benefits to patients, and veterans especially, it still falls well short of the changes necessary to bring federal marijuana policy into the 21st century,” Armentano continued.

“Specifically, rescheduling fails to harmonize federal marijuana policy with the cannabis laws of most states, particularly the 24 states that have legalized its use and sale to adults – thereby leaving those who produce, dispense, possess, or use marijuana in compliance with state laws in jeopardy of federal prosecution,” Armentano said.

The solution? Remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act altogether, he proposed.

“Doing so would affirm America's longstanding principles of federalism and appeal to Americans' deep-rooted desires to be free from undue government intrusion into their daily lives,” Armentano said.

Article continues below

LEGAL WEED IN NEW JERSEY: WHAT ARE THE RULES?

Here are some things to know about Garden State’s current regulations for adult recreational use, as per the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission:

WHO CAN BUY? – Anyone 21 years and older (New Jersey residents or visitors)

WHAT CAN I BUY? – In each transaction, dispensaries are allowed to sell up to the equivalent of 28.35 grams or one ounce of usable cannabis (four grams of solid concentrates or resin, four grams of concentrate in liquid form, four grams of vaporized formulations (oil), or 1,000 mg of edibles or other cannabis-infused products).

HOW MUCH WEED CAN I HAVE ON ME? – New Jersey state law allows adults 21 years and older to have up to six ounces of cannabis and cannabis products in their possession.

WHERE CAN I SMOKE? – Cannabis users may smoke in private spaces, however landlords can prohibit cannabis use on their property. Cannabis smoking is allowed where cigarette smoking is permitted, unless stated otherwise. People can also consume legal cannabis at licensed dispensaries with approved consumption areas.

IS IT ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WHILE HIGH? – Yes. Laws regarding driving while impaired apply to being under the influence of cannabis.

HOW MUCH IS THE TAX? – All transactions are subject to New Jersey sales tax of 6.625 percent, plus a social equity excise fee of 1/3 of 1 percent. Customers may also face local fees or taxes, depending on the location of the dispensary.

CAN I TAKE MY WEED OUT OF STATE? – No. It is still illegal to transport cannabis across state lines.

CAN I GIVE MY FRIENDS WEED AS A GIFT? – Yes. People may give up to 28.35 grams (one ounce) of cannabis to another adult 21 years or older. They may not accept any form of payment or compensation for the gifted cannabis.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.