Legislation (A-6267/S-4847) that makes various changes to the membership of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and to the legalized medical and personal use cannabis marketplace is advancing. 

Of municipal interest, as amended in the bill:  

• Renames the “Workplace Impairment Recognition Experts” (WIRE)to “Workplace Impairment Recognition Evaluator” and shifts certain certification authority from the Police Training Commission to the Department of Labor and Workplace Development.
• Clarifies that an alternative treatment center (ATC) that was expanded to the adult-use market pays the identical fee applicable to the relevant adult-use license renewal fee. 
• Requires the New Jersey State Police to develop and implement an enforcement program to identify, investigate, and initiate enforcement actions against unlicensed businesses selling cannabis or cannabis items.
• Permits New Jersey State Police or a local law enforcement agency to take steps to close such businesses, seize any cannabis sold by the unlicensed business, and refer the matter for criminal prosecution.  
• 
  Permits an unlicensed business to be deemed a public nuisance subject to abatement under State and municipal law. 
• Authorizes a Class 5 Cannabis Retailer license to maintain up to two satellite retail locations, provided the licensee first secures Cannabis Regulatory Commission approval. 

A-6267 is before the Assembly Appropriations Committee on January 8. The Senate companion, S-4847, is at 2nd reading in the Senate. Both bills may be scheduled for the January 12 final Assembly and Senate voting session of the legislative term. 

Contacts: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112, and Sadayah Q. DuRant-Brown, Legislative Counsel, sdurantbrown@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.