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assembly

Tuberculosis Cure In Running For New Jersey’s ‘Official State Microbe’ Title

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – New Jersey’s official state flower is the violet; its state animal is the horse; now, it may be getting a state microbe. Yes, the Garden State may be getting a germ. “I think it fits for New Jersey. Us to have a state microbe is kind of just saying that germs fit us very well,” Jersey City resident Wendell Senatus told CBS2’s Meg Baker. Some may see it as yet another reason why New Jersey gets a bad rap. But others say it’s an honor. Streptomyces griseus was discovered in the Garden State in the early 1900s and helped create the world’s first antibiotic for tuberculosis in 1943. “I hope the trend turns out to be contagious. It definitely should spread. We need to infect all the other states in the union,” Browns Mills resident Tim Schwanitz said. “I think microbes should get more recognition, because they do a lot for the community,” said a Wall Township woman. Rutgers University professor Douglas Eveleigh told Baker “a microbe is a lovely little bacteria.” “I’ll put in a New Jersey plug in that it came from New Jersey soil,” he added. That’s right, Jersey dirt with healing powers. “It hit tuberculosis, which at that time was probably the biggest killer in the world,” said Eveleigh. “It’s done uncalculable things for humanity, it’s essentially saved millions of lives,” associate professor Jeff Boyd added. Rutgers professors Albert Schatz and Dr. Selman Waksman received a 1952 Nobel Price for helping to cure the deadliest disease of their time. “Kids will learn about the state bird, the state bug, and now they learn about the state microbe. Just another part of our would and another branch of science to be explored,” said Daniella Slomko, of Woodbridge. Science lovers say have a “germy” state has its benefits. The state voted unanimously in favor of the bacterial bill. Now, it’s on to the Assembly for a vote.

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Tuberculosis Cure In Running For New Jersey’s ‘Official State Microbe’ Title

July 27, 2018 0 comment

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Jersey City Decriminalizes Marijuana Possession; State Still Split On Legalization

written by AlbertaDunrossi

LINDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – More and more New Jersey municipalities are joining the conversation on marijuana legalization. The state’s second-largest city is following New York City and Philadelphia, implementing a decriminalization policy. As CBS2’s Meg Baker reports, there are mixed feelings on the issue. While some municipalities are passing resolutions in opposition, Jersey City is taking a more progressive approach. Decriminalization went into effect there on Thursday. “We are downgrading all marijuana offenses that come through the city ports of Jersey City to local ordinance violation, which will not add to a criminal record or have any of the other collateral consequences of a misdemeanor conviction,” said Jake Hudnut, Jersey City’s new chief municipal prosecutor. Hudnut’s recommending a fine of no more than $50 or five hours of community service if marijuana charges are not dismissed. He’s on the same page as Gov. Phil Murphy , calling it a social justice issue. “People of color are three times more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for marijuana possession, even though cross-racial usage of marijuana appears to be the same,” he said. So where do things stand at the state level when it comes to legalizing adult use of marijuana? “We’re close to getting an agreement with the administration and hopefully the Assembly leadership, so we can have hearings and potentially a vote before the end of the summer,” said State Sen. Nicholas Scutari. Scutari is the lead sponsor of the bill. He says legislators are digging into the details before holding public hearings. “Tax rates, how many dispensaries there will be, how many grow facilities there will be, where they will be located, what’s going to be required for these people in order to get a license to either grow, manufacture or sell,” he said. Political expert Jim McQueeny says there may be more going on behind the scenes. Hesitation may be brewing, because the entire Assembly is up for reelection in 2019, he says. “I think they’re really concerned that voters might think they’re going pell-mell into this thing and opening up places for distributors to be selling marijuana with Slurpees at Wawa and 7-Eleven,” he said. Scutari says decriminalization keeps drug dealers in business and hopes to firm up wavering support for legalization on both sides of the aisle in the next six weeks.

July 19, 2018 0 comment

news

New Jersey Lawmakers Propose Opioid Education For Students In Grades 7-12

written by Kareem5017

NEW JERSEY (CBSNewYork) — In face of the opioid epidemic , New Jersey lawmakers have come up with a Narcan lesson for children, which they say could save lives. There’s a proposal in the Assembly to educate students in seventh through 12th grades about opioids. “I think at a certain age that we could possibly do that. I wouldn’t do something with children that are too young, but certainly children in high school that might be exposed to that,” one woman told CBS2’s Meg Baker. “They absorb more the younger they are,” said another. “The younger the little children learn about this disease – this epidemic that is not going away – the better off it is,” a man added. The bill goes one step further — if passed, students would be taught how to administer an opioid antidote, like naloxone, to an overdose victim in an emergency. Dr. Diane Calello, with Rutgers Medical School, compares the controversial teaching to sex education. “It would have to be done very carefully… I think the downside is it might convey that safety net message, on the other hand, naloxone can save somebody’s life,” she said. She said incorporating this into health education is the right thing to do. “We always talk about talking to kids about drugs before somebody else does, meaning a negative peer influence or media or social media influence,” said Calello. Other people Baker spoke with agreed the education is good for students. “You have to be a little progressive in this situation and it pays dividends down the future,” one man said. “It could save a life… You could have some kids that do dabble and don’t realize what they are getting into,” said a woman. “It’s a shame what’s happening with these kids are dying.” Calello said opioid education is just one of the ways to combat the epidemic. Other major efforts include enforcement, looking at the way doctors prescribe the drugs, and laws and regulations.

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New Jersey Lawmakers Propose Opioid Education For Students In Grades 7-12

July 6, 2018 0 comment