Sale and distribution of flavored vaping products including menthol will soon be considered illegal as Governor Phil Murphy signed several bills into law including Senate Bill 3265 imposing a permanent ban on flavored vaping products.

Retailers and vape shops are required to pull out their products and clear their shelves within ninety (90) days or to pivot any other business aside from the sale of vaping products. The measure would bar menthol and other flavor but permits tobacco flavor. The new law is set to take effect on the 20th of April 2020 across the state.

This year already promises to have plenty of election drama thanks to the presidential race. But in some states -- including some of the biggest in the U.S. -- it also could prove to be a big election for marijuana. 

In other states, leaders are choosing legislative action over the ballot box. It’s setting up what should be an interesting year for cannabis advocates in 2020.

Chief among the states considering legalization are New Jersey and New York. Lawmakers in both states failed to pass legalization in 2019. Voters in New Jersey will take matters into their own hands this November. Meanwhile, New York is looking to partner on the issue with a neighboring state on legalization through legislative action.

Cops in New Jersey scoped out a cannabis candy manufacturing ring for a year before they swooped in on December 19. They eventually fingered 24 individuals with criminal charges in an endeavor they called “Operation On the Ropes,” after the suspects’ use of Nerd Ropes in their extra-legal business scheme.

Three state hemp plans have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture so far – and what’s surprising is the state that isn’t among them.

State and tribal hemp production plans that are pending approval or have been approved can be found here. Last updated on December 27, the states to get a green light at this point are Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain welcomed the approval.

The start of the new year will bring a new cash crop to New Jersey after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state’s plan to grow hemp.

As of Friday, the USDA has given three states and three Native American tribes the green light to grow the plant, a mild cousin of marijuana. In addition to New Jersey, Louisiana and Ohio’s proposals received approval.

Grown legally, hemp has only small amounts of the compound THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that causes a high. The plant can be used to make plastics, clothing, food and legal CBD products. Industry analysts predict hemp production could top $22 billion in coming years.

The cannabis advocacy community wants the nation to believe that 2019 was a banner year in the realm of marijuana reform. But the only things that really happened were that New York and New Jersey failed to make good on their word to legalize, Illinois followed through and the U.S. House of Representatives dilly-dallied with a couple of bills (SAFE and MORE Acts) that will never see the light of day.

This “banner” year that pro-pot organizations like NORML are so proud of really doesn’t equate to much. But we could have better luck next year. There are several states positioned to legalize marijuana in 2020. These are the five that seem to have the best chance at success.

After months of discussing the likely outcome, New Jersey lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly approved the inclusion of adult-use cannabis on its 2020 ballot. If approved, adults over the age of 21 would be able to participate in the legal marketplace. However, the vote would then turn the legislating back to lawmakers who struggled to put together a passable bill the year prior. 

Voters in New Jersey are slated to decide next year on whether to legalize recreational marijuana in the state after several failed attempts by lawmakers to pass a legalization bill. 

The question that will find itself on the 2020 ballot will be “Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’?”

If approved, New Jersey will become the 11th US state to allow recreational cannabis as residents aged 21 and older will be able to legally purchase weed.

The ten remaining states where recreational pot is allowed have also approved the measure via ballot.

Marijuana products would be subject to the New Jersey 6.625% sales tax, while other details would be worked out following the ballot.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to expunge the criminal records of low-level marijuana offenders and to restore voting rights for more than 80,000 convicts.

Murphy, a Democrat who took office in January 2018, hailed the bills as a hallmark of his progressive agenda and a fresh start for thousands of residents whose records have hampered job and housing searches. The laws were welcomed by civil-rights groups, urban mayors and religious leaders.