Writings by Daniel T. McKillop

On November 26, the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and Assembly Appropriations Committee approved the latest version of Senate Bill 2703, which would legalize the possession and non-medical personal use of cannabis for people age 21 and older.

While cannabis advocates may still be waiting for the state to legalize recreational marijuana, Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed an important cannabis bill clearing the way for growers to cultivate its less controversial “cousin.” Under Assembly Bill 1330, which was signed into law by Governor Murphy last week, license holders will be able to plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, distribute, buy, or sell industrial hemp within the state.

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee recently advanced a resolution that asks New Jersey voters to decide whether the State Constitution should be amended to recognize that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment. While the controversial amendment aims to preserve the state’s natural resources, it could also make development in New Jersey more burdensome and expensive.

As the medical marijuana industry in New Jersey expands and becomes more competitive, dispensaries will be able to post their prices. The New Jersey Department of Health recently announced that the state’s six existing Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) can now publicly list medical marijuana prices on their websites and social media accounts.

While marijuana gets all the headlines, a bill to legalize industrial hemp passed the New Jersey Legislature and is now awaiting action by Gov. Phil Murphy. Under Assembly Bill 1330, license holders would be able to plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, distribute, buy, or sell industrial hemp within the state.

Big changes are on the horizon for New Jersey’s Brownfields Program under Gov. Phil Murphy’s new economic plan. The Economic Development Strategic Plan, which Gov. Murphy unveiled during an economic address, entitled "The State of Innovation: Building a Stronger and Fairer New Jersey," includes a range of programs aimed to jumpstart the state’s economy.

While electronic filing is now commonplace with respect to filing taxes or corporate documents, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has failed to keep pace with technology. Thankfully, that will soon change. According to NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe, the agency is preparing to unveil a new electronic submission system.

It is increasingly likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will intervene to resolve disputes over the limits of groundwater contamination liability under the Clean Water Act (CWA). A circuit split recently developed with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that two power plants did not violate the CWA when contaminants from their coal ash ponds leached into the local groundwater.

Below is a brief summary of certain highlights within the latest version of Senate Bill 2703, the cannabis legalization bill sponsored by Senator Scutari and Senator Sweeney, as revised by the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee:

After months of debate, marijuana legalization is so close you can almost smell it. New Jersey lawmakers are currently working to finalize the medical marijuana program expansion bill and the adult-use legalization bill, which will be introduced as a package deal. According to Sen. Steve Sweeney, a vote will hopefully take place later this month.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently amended several of its environmental regulations. The changes will have a profound impact on contaminated site remediation projects in New Jersey.

Courts Continue to Send Mixed Signals Regarding the Use of Medical Cannabis in the Workplace as a Medical Cannabis Patient’s Disability Lawsuit was Recently Dismissed Courts continue to send mixed signals to employers and employees regarding the use of medical cannabis in the workplace. In Cotto v. Ardagh Glass Packaging, Inc., a federal judge ruled […]