NJSBA HQ New Jersey State Bar Association headquarters. Credit: Google

Q&A with the NJSBA Cannabis Law Committee on New Jersey's new law legalizing recreational marijuana

The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) submitted its report and recommendations to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) last summer on the rules and regulations promulgated by the CRC on the state's new law that legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over. Many of those recommendations were adopted by the CRC in issuing the regulations. The Bar Report asked NJSBA Cannabis Law Committee Co-Chairs Joshua S. Bauchner, of Ansell Grimm and Aaron, in Woodland Park, and Lisa Gora, of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, in Woodbridge, about some of the legal ramifications concerning the new state law and what follows is a compilation of their responses.

• The new law will create some consequential changes to practice areas. What areas are you seeing being affected now and why, and what practice areas can expect to see changes on the horizon?

Cannabis regulation is undeniably a cross-disciplinary field. The NJSBA Cannabis Law Committee has subcommittees focusing on employment law; corporate and real estate transactional law; municipal law; environmental law; and issues affecting women, minorities and disabled veterans. Ninety percent of cannabis business is no different than the widget business. But that 10% makes all the difference. Incorporating the specifics of cannabis regulation into these practice areas is essential to effective client representation.