“New Jersey’s cannabis consumers have a list of specific issues that Sherrill and Ciattarelli could address… And we vote—so the candidates would do well to stop by and say ‘high’ to us before Election Day.”

By Chris Goldstein, NORML

The Garden State is having a quiet economic revolution with legal cannabis, but both mainstream candidates for governor barely seem to be paying attention.

Nearly three million voters turned out to the polls in 2020 to allow retail sales of the plant. That ballot referendum won 67 percent approval and also proved that New Jersey’s pro-weed voters aren’t all from one party. And we’re all still out here, waiting for politicians to talk to us again.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) wholeheartedly supports legalization and has taken several major pro-cannabis actions while serving in Congress, including voting to support the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE). She has also supported removing cannabis from Schedule I in the federal Controlled Substances Act specifically.

Earlier this year Sherrill voiced support for allowing personal cannabis cultivation in New Jersey. That’s a big shift for a former federal prosecutor.

During a campaign that has pulled focus, Sherrill still has plenty of room to connect with voters on these popular issues.

Former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) was no fan of cannabis while serving as a legislator. Back in 2021, during a previous campaign for governor, Ciattarelli took a moment during a debate to note that he outright opposed legalization of adult-use cannabis.

This year he softened his tone a bit by supporting a bi-partisan push to allow medical cannabis home cultivation. But Ciattarelli stopped short of allowing any adult to have a small garden. If he realizes how many older voters blaze joints in front of the news every night, Ciattarelli might still find time for Mary Jane.

There are more than 10,000 farms in New Jersey that together generate about $1.5 billion annually in global retail sales. From blueberries to soybeans, New Jersey’s agriculture currently represents the state’s third largest market—behind only pharmaceuticals and tourism.

All those farms now have some serious competition. Last year fewer than 200 cannabis operations generated just over $1 billion in sales that were all tendered within New Jersey’s borders.

Next year cannabis may surpass all other traditional farming as New Jersey’s third largest market. The Garden State’s most popular flower will likely stay in that spot for decades into the future. Think about that while you pick some overpriced pumpkins.

New Jersey’s governor now plays an important role in our cannabis economy. They appoint commissioners and get to adjust certain cannabis-related taxes. Current Gov. Phil Murphy (D) made legalization, regulation and the market launch a central effort of his two terms.

The next governor will also need to be directly involved to keep cannabis growing and taxes flowing. For instance, I’ve always wanted to see just a few of our most lucrative plants growing around Drumthwacket, the governor’s official residence.

New Jersey’s cannabis consumers have a list of specific issues that Sherrill and Ciattarelli could address.

Our medical cannabis program has been woefully neglected and deserves to be regenerated under a new vision. Adults face brutally expensive prices on regulated products compared to other states, continued prohibition on personal cultivation and ongoing access concerns.

Plants don’t generate all those profits or taxes. Every penny comes from the pockets of cannabis consumers like me. We’ve contributed nearly a billion dollars in taxes in just a few years to New Jersey’s coffers.

And we vote—so the candidates would do well to stop by and say “high” to us before Election Day.

Chris Goldstein is based in Willingboro. He’s been a cannabis consumer rights activist for thirty years and serves as a regional organizer for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – NORML.