New Jersey officials announced that $5.5 million of marijuana revenue would be available to fund a program for hospital-based violence interventions grants.
Governor will begin awarding grants next year. In a joint press release, Phil Murphy (D), and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. The New Jersey Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program, which will be launched in 2020, connects survivors of violent crimes, including gun violence with community-based organisations that provide support “starting at the bedside.”
In a press release, the governor stated that “These innovative violence interventions programs allow providers the opportunity to care for vulnerable victims in the early stages of their recovery to help break the violent patterns which have tragically claimed the lives of many New Jerseyans.” We will do everything we can to help prevent and eliminate violence in communities throughout the state.
The federal government funded the original program, and last year the state received an extra $10 million through the American Rescue Plan. Officials are now using cannabis-impact zone funding from the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund, created to reinvest into communities most impacted.
Murphy and Platkin announced last month that a separate grant program aimed to interrupt and prevent violent crime would be funded by a third from the cannabis fund. The fund was created by the state’s Marijuana Legalization Law and consists of money from taxes, industry fees, and civil penalties.
Hospital-based violence interventions programs empower communities to break the cycle of victimization and violent acts. @GovMurphy has led and supported this initiative. https://t.co/bIP2X1Eoha
Attorney General Matt Platkin 21 September 2023
Platkin stated that hospital-based programs are “essential aspects of our comprehensive public safety approach, and empower communities to break cycles of victimization and violent violence.”
In a press release, he stated: “Through this financing, we make it clear that we will utilize every tool and resource to combat gun crime and violent crimes that affect too many of our community.”
Hospitals can submit applications to the new funding round until October 18. The maximum amount that can be requested per project is $995,000. The state has scheduled an informational webinar for September 29. It will be recorded, and then posted online on October 3.
New Jersey is one of the majority of states that have legalized cannabis and invest at least a portion of their revenue in community reinvestment.
California announced last month that it would be accepting applications for $48 Million in marijuana tax funded community reinvestment grant. These grants support job placement, legal aid, treatment of substance abuse disorders and mental health, as well as referrals to medical services and other services, for communities who have been disproportionately impacted by the drug-war. This program, which offers grants up to $3,000,000, is funded solely by state cannabis revenues.
In June, California regulators from the Department of Cannabis Control announced that they had awarded $4.1 millions to 18 local governments as part of a unique program designed to support licensing programs for cannabis businesses and to curb the illegal market.
DCC also awarded nearly $20,000,000 in research grants funded by marijuana taxes to 16 academic institutions for the purpose of carrying out cannabis studies, including novel cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, and genetics of many “legacy strains” throughout the state. In February, state officials awarded $15 million to local efforts to promote equity within the marijuana industry.
Illinois distributed $45 million last year in grants under its Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) Program, which was created under the state’s Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Law. The funds were distributed to 148 organizations that operate on small budgets and are located in socioeconomically challenged communities.
Arizona has set aside 10 percent from the marijuana tax revenue to create a Justice Redevelopment Fund. This fund provides funding for public health services, counseling and job training, as well as other social services in communities affected negatively by marijuana arrests. The state opened applications for its first round of grants in that program.
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
The first time Marijuana Moment was published, the post New Jersey Officials Will Put $5.5M In Cannabis Revenue Toward Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program.
