Color of Cannabis panelists take on weed issues
The future of marijuana registers as the main topic for discussion tonight as The Capital City Area Black Caucus offers a threehour discussion on “The Color of Cannabis: Challenges, Choices and Opportunities”.
The Sept. 11 conference includes a host of panelists and topics including issues pertaining to medical marijuana use, marijuana legalization, economic opportunities available should state officials legalize marijuana, expungement of records that involved marijuana possession and a litany of other ideas about the popular recreational drug.
Guests are welcomed to attend a 4 p.m. community reception inside the Community Room of Mercer County Community College James Kerney Campus located at 102 N.Broad St. The Cannabis discussion lasts from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
John Bailey, organizer of the CCABC, said panelists originate from political, industry, business, health, law enforcement, cannabis advocacy, faith, community organization leaders and concerned citizens around New Jersey’s coming cannabis boom. Discussions will hash out the intricacies of cannabis legalization and how a move toward recreational use will impact the state, communities and citizens of color in New Jersey.
“Black folk are still at the bottom of the well regarding prosecutions for marijuana possession and being able to participate in the wealth opportunities associated with cannabis legalization. That will be part of the discussion, no doubt,” Bailey said.
John Harmon, president of the African Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and Trenton businessman, author and ReEntry specialist Tracey Syphax agreed that the cannabis discussion “may be CCABC’s most important meeting yet, because there is so much at stake and so many will be impacted.” Harmon and Syphax are co-founders of CCABC.
Former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, “We are at a historic moment in New Jersey, where once the legislation to legalize cannabis passes, the equity, diversity, accountability and inclusion question being addressed at this session on Sept. 11 will force us all to do better and to look at ways to make a positive impact on New Jersey citizens, especially in Trenton.”
Not so fast. New Jersey whiffed on a first attempt to pass legislation for marijuana legalization as the mission failed to collect enough legislature support, a situation that forced Senate President Stephen Sweeney to kill the measure. Sweeney, New Jersey’s highest-ranking lawmaker, expected a voter referendum in November 2020 to settle the matter although whispers of one more attempt may occur to create legalization via legislation.
Mercer County Freeholder Sam Frisby, recognized a dais that includes political powerbrokers and community activists.
“We have convened an unbelievable list of speakers and sponsors for this event. There is a lot happening in New Jersey and Trenton around this cannabis issue and we need to stay woke, because as the title says, there will be challenges, choices and opportunity in the cannabis industry and I want us to be prepared to be engaged and invested in what happens in Mercer County,”
Confirmed speakers include: NJ Assemblyman Jamel Holley, Mercer County Freeholder Sam Frisby, Charlana McKeithen, executive Director, Garden State-NORML, Scott Rudder, president of NJ Cannabusiness Association, Hugh O’Beirne, president, NJ Cannabis Industry Association, Doug Palmer, Principal & CEO, DHPalmer & Associates and former mayor of Trenton, Leo Bridgewater, chairperson, Minorities For Med
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