Speaker Coughlin Statement on Medicinal Cannabis and Expungement Bills Clearing Assembly Appropriations Committee

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) issued the following statement on legislation that would revise procedures and eligibility for the expungement of criminal records and expand access to medicinal cannabis:

“I thank the members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee for moving ahead with the Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act which makes medicinal cannabis more accessible to patients who could benefit from it.

“For many suffering from critical and chronic illnesses, increasing access to medical cannabis will mean the difference between being able to participate in life or having to suffer every day with intense pain and debilitating symptoms.

“I am pleased the committee acted on legislation that would revise the procedures for expunging records of certain marijuana-related convictions. Broader regulation around expungement will give thousands of New Jerseyans the opportunity to make it easier to gain employment, buy a home or get a loan.

“Social justice and social equity have always been at the heart of support of our caucus for adult use cannabis. The actions of the Appropriations Committee today take a step forward in addressing our social justice concerns.”