iradiophilly | News - NJ Legislature Passes Cannabis Bill; PA Supreme Court Dismisses Petition; Philly Vaccine Protocols

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NJ Legislature Passes Cannabis Bill; PA Supreme Court Dismisses Petition; Philly Vaccine Protocols

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 12/17/20 11:29 pm | updated: 12/17/20 11:29 pm

New Jersey lawmakers passed legislation on Thursday, 12/17, setting up a recreational marijuana marketplace. The Assembly and Senate both passed the bill during remote sessions. Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign the measure into law. New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment in November allowing for recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. The amendment takes effect Jan. 1. Cannabis sales will be subject to the state's 6.625% sales tax. 70% of the proceeds will go to areas disproportionately affected by marijuana-related arrests. Individual towns will be able to levy their own 2% sales tax. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission will be able to levy an excise tax. There will be four levels depending on the wholesale price of marijuana. It if it over $350, the tax is $10 per ounce. If it is under $250 per ounce, the tax goes up to $60 per ounce. The number of licenses for cultivators will be limited at 37 for two years. The measure would permit carrying up to 6 ounces of cannabis. The legislature is also considering legislation to decriminalize marijuana.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has dismissed a King's Bench petition brought by Maureen Faulkner, the widow of deceased Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, seeking to disqualify the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office from handling convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeals. Instead, she sought to have the case reassigned to the Pennsylvania Attorney General. She argued that District Attorney Larry Krasner and his aides have links to Abu-Jamal's case that should have disqualified them and that the office has not handled the case with due vigor. Justice David N. Wecht wrote in a concurring stateent, "Ms. Faulkner's petition is being dismissed because she raised a litany of allegations but was unable to prove any of them," he wrote. Justice Sallie Mundy wrote in her dissent, "I conclude that the record before us establishes an appearance of impropriety that warrants transferring this case from the District Attorney's Office (DAO) to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG)."

In re: Conflict of Interest of the Office of the Phila. D. A., Petition of: Maureen Faulkner, No. 125 EM 2019 - pco, cs, cs, ds:https://t.co/dxnNxAYyKT https://t.co/N4WIfRJt1N https://t.co/PgKYkaZNaa https://t.co/re3wbVPjge
â€” SupremeCtofPA (@SupremeCtofPA) December 16, 2020

SEE ALSO: Faulkner Calls Krasner a Liar

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccinations have begun in throughout the City of Philadelphia. Health Commisioner Dr. Tom Farley laid out different tiers of the population and the order they each would receive a vaccine. He explained the priority factors that went in to deciding the different tiers. "First, the likelihood that someone will acquire the infection. Second, the risk someone will have serious infection. Third, the risk of spreading to someone else who is at risk," he said. The first two tiers will receive the inoculations first. It will take months for most people to receive a shot. Currently, Pfizer has the only FDA approved vaccine. An independent panel met on Thursday, 12/17, to review a vaccine from Moderna and has made a recommendation to the FDA for approval. The FDA is expected to grant an Emergency Use Authorization and this vaccine should start shipping next week.

Tiers for Vaccinations
1) Health care workers routinely exposed to COVID-19 patients

2) Residents and staff at nursing homes

3) "Critical infrastructure workers" who are routinely exposed to COVID-19 while on the job (police officers, firefighters, bus drivers, sanitation workers etc.)

4) Residents and workers in congregant settings that are not nursing homes

5) People with underlying medical conditions

6) The rest of the general public

ICYMI @DrTomFarley explains the 3 priority factors for vaccine recipients:

"First, the likelihood that someone will acquire the infection. Second,, the risk someone will have serious infection. Third, the risk of spreading to someone else who is at risk" https://t.co/UK2hhNK8Ok
â€” Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) December 17, 2020