Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

By Payton Guion | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: Interested in the marijuana business industry? NJ Cannabis Insider is a new premium intelligence briefing that features exclusive weekly content geared toward entrepreneurs, lawyers and Realtors. View a sample issue.

An assemblyman, two senators and a former attorney general walked into a Rahway theater on Wednesday, along with several other members of New Jersey's marijuana brain trust, to discuss cannabis legalization.

Topics at NJ Cannabis Insider Live — an event held by NJ Advance Media — ranged from social justice and the marijuana business to the upcoming legal weed bill, which remains something of a mystery to most people in the state.

Through a handful of panel discussions and a speech by state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, who has been leading the push for marijuana legalization, several key points on cannabis emerged, some for the first time.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Former attorney general says weed is coming

Christopher Porrino was attorney general under former Gov. Chris Christie, who opposed adult-use marijuana.

On Wednesday, Porrino told the audience of nearly 200 in Rahway that legal weed is coming to New Jersey; it's just a matter of when and how.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Key senator hints that he could support legalization

Legislative leaders in New Jersey have been saying for a couple of months that they believe the votes are in place to legalize marijuana. But so far, a majority of lawmakers haven't publicly said they'd support legalization.

One of the key votes in the Senate is Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, and on Wednesday he seemed to open the door on his support of marijuana.

Vitale had previously been a "no" on adult-use marijuana, but on Wednesday he said, "I haven't made up my mind."

Assemblyman Jamel Holley, D-Union, immediately followed that up by saying, '"We're going to get him there."

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Assemblyman says expungements should be in the main bill

NJ Advance Media reported last month that Holley was working with Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, D-Union, on a separate bill regarding expungements, which has been a cornerstone of the social justice portion of marijuana legalization in New Jersey. That separate bill would be introduced alongside the legal weed bill.

Holley said at the Cannabis Insider Live event that he would much prefer expungements be included in a single legal weed bill, rather than as a companion bill.

After his panel discussion, Holley said he thinks including expungements in the legalization bill could be key to getting the votes needed for passage.

Don't Edit

Don't believe Oct. 29 ... yet

Last week, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said he expects to hold a vote on legalization by Oct. 29.

But one of the themes that came from Wednesday's event was that several key issues have not yet been decided. Among them are expungements, regulations and marijuana tax rate.

Couple that with the deadlines that have already passed — lawmakers had said the bill was supposed to be done before June 30 and by the end of September — and it's probably too early to put Oct. 29 as legalization day in your calendars.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NJ Weedman will keep fighting

Nearly 200 people packed into the Hamilton Stage annex of the Union County Performing Arts Center, but one man stayed outside the event, protesting the legalization bill.

Ed Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman, has said that he'll keep protesting legalization in New Jersey until more people of color are included in the industry. Forchion sold marijuana outside the Statehouse last week in another protest, but state troopers declined to arrest him.

When asked if he would participate in New Jersey's legal weed industry, should the current draft of the bill pass, he said he would remain in the black market.

Don't Edit

Towns should wait to ban marijuana

As of Wednesday, around 40 towns in the state had taken steps to ban marijuana sales, should legalization pass the Legislature, despite no bill being finalized.

Vitale urged town officials to wait and see what the final bill looks like before closing themselves off to the industry. Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr echoed that.

"I think we're trying to be sure our voices will be heard," Mahr said. "If the buy-in is not there, I think you'll see more towns opt out."

Don't Edit

More photos from the event

Don't Edit

A shot of the social justice panel, one of a handful of panels that spoke at the Cannabis Insider event.

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Don't Edit

Social justice remains a key issue in the legal weed debate. These stickers were on display at the NJUMR booth at Wednesday's event.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Cannabis Insider's Justin Zaremba wore these socks to the event.

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Don't Edit

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari, who has been pushing legal weed in New Jersey, was the keynote speaker.

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Don't Edit

The shirt worn by Ed Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman, as he protested outside the event.

Don't Edit

Co-founder of CannaGather NJ, Rani Soto, addresses the crowd on Wednesday at the NJ Cannabis Insider Live event.

Payton Guion | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Don't Edit

Read more

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider.

Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.