Recent discussions on home cultivation in New Jersey have stalled, with claims that the industry needs “time to mature.” As licensed cannabis operators, stakeholders in the industry, and relevant organizations, we respectfully disagree. Legalizing medical home cultivation will not harm the legal state cannabis industry. We firmly support immediate legalization for patients and caregivers, along with additional legislation to safely and equitably legalize personal use home cultivation.

We support amending bills S1393/A846 to allow up to 100 square feet of mature cannabis plant canopy area. This change will enable patients and caregivers to cultivate enough cannabis to meet their individual needs and prevent exploitation of the law by growing massive plants. We urge the legislature to bring S1393/A846 to committee and consider medical home cultivation for a vote as soon as possible to reduce the ongoing impact on medical cannabis patients.

New Jersey, the 14th state to approve recreational sales, remains the first to do so without any form of home grow. Currently, growing just one cannabis plant can result in up to 5 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. New Jersey also has some of the highest cannabis prices in the nation, averaging $269 per ounce at the lowest end, costing patients over $1,000 per month for their medical supply.

Patients who can afford medical cannabis often struggle to find a consistent supply within the NJMMP. Cannabis is a complex plant with varying chemical profiles, making different strains drastically different in effects. Patients often need specific combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes to treat their ailments. Commercial cannabis is typically grown for high THC content and quick harvests, neglecting many types with minor cannabinoids that benefit patients. These cultivars, which may take over 90 days to harvest or yield only a few ounces, should not be illegal to access.

Home cultivation is essential for providing consistent and affordable cannabis to patients. Regulations must allow for equitable access and remove excessively punitive measures for home-grown medicinal cannabis compared to store-bought. We request the following amendments to S1393/A846:

Change the 4 plant count to a 10’x10’ plant canopy area to allow medical patients to properly phenohunt and maintain a consistent supply.
Remove the punitive measures for furnishing home-grown cannabis to others, treating it the same as store-bought medical cannabis.
ACTION: CONTACTING LEGISLATORS!

Make legislators aware of bills A846 (S1393), A3867 (S1985), A898 (S2828), S1943, and S1944. Urge them to support these bills and tell Senate President Nicholas Scutari to post them for hearings. This will help patients access the life-saving medicine they need but cannot afford or that ATCs do not sell. Many patients require specialized cultivars not favored in markets geared toward adult-use sales.

Patients should not have to wait for adult-use market expansion for access, especially since home grow in every state has shown no negative impact on the business market. With only 30% of municipalities opting into the market, it's crucial to act now.

Growing any number of plants is currently a felony with a potential five-year sentence. Legislators need to take action to help patients better access their medicine and manage their conditions.

The people want education, not criminalization!

Cannabis Regulatory Commission Executive Director, Jeff Brown, declared, 'This is the year that New Jersey does a billion dollars in cannabis sales,' while New Jersey boasts some of the highest-priced medical cannabis in the country. Not supporting patients' home growing is simply disrespectful.

It's time for leadership to do what's right and post these bills for hearings so that legislators can be properly informed on this crucial issue!