Writings by Daniel T. McKillop

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 […]

The Murphy Administration is taking an aggressive approach to environmental enforcement actions involving contamination. For the first time in a decade, the state has filed lawsuits seeking to recover natural resource damages.

Community solar is one way that the State of New Jersey plans to meet its clean energy goals. Under the Community Solar Pilot Program, customers of an electric public utility could participate in a shared solar energy project that is remotely located from their properties, but is within their utility service territory, and obtain a credit to the customer's utility bill equal to the electricity generated that is attributed to the customer's participation in the solar energy project. The program would permit each customer to participate in a solar energy project with a capacity of five megawatts or less.

On June 7, 2018, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives introduced the "Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act" (STATES Act). The proposed legislation (S. 3032; H.R. 6043) amends the CSA to exempt marijuana legalized at the state level.

An injured municipal worker is entitled to insurance coverage for medical marijuana, according to a recent decision by a New Jersey workers’ compensation judge. In reaching its decision, the judge rejected the argument that it's unconstitutional for a court to order an insurance carrier to pay for treatment because it conflicts with federal law.

Efforts to expand New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Program are progressing rapidly. An estimated 800 applicants recently attended the New Jersey Department of Health’s (DOH) mandatory conference, all hoping to become one of the state’s six new alternative treatment centers (ATCs).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with its rewrite of the Clean Water Rule. The agency recently sent its proposal to redefine “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. 

New Jersey is moving forward with efforts to expand its medical marijuana program. The state is currently seeking applicants to operate six new medicinal marijuana dispensaries — two each in the northern, central and southern regions of New Jersey. “We look forward to the opening of six new dispensaries so we can ensure that all […]

The New Jersey Senate recently advanced legislation that aims to address the state’s aging stormwater systems, which are designed to prevent runoff from causing pollution and flooding. The bill, Senate Bill No. 1073, would authorize municipalities and counties to establish stormwater utilities, which could then assess fees on property owners.

Advocates for adult-use are hopeful that two recently introduced bills will help reignite momentum for legal cannabis in New Jersey.