On April 21st, NJ started selling adult use cannabis for non medical purposes at dispensaries (ATCs) that were originally for medical use only. In a webinar on April 21, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) discussed ways they are working to make the application process move forward including using "conditional licenses" to provide applicants with more leverage on the many items they need to get final approval. These items include site control, resumes, finances, etc.

May is a great time to focus on our mental health and to reduce stigma associated with it. We have a number of events and social media posts to do just that. We have started our partnership with the Flemington Food Pantry and Grow-A-Row this month for their Family Meals program. Our first conversation card is about mental health. This is an opportunity to reach out to county families and encourage them to discuss important topics with their kids. Conversation cards are in both English and Spanish. Participants can win ShopRite gift cards just by completing a survey! Contact Wendy to learn more about the conversation cards for the family meals project.

Effective July 16, 2022, 988 will replace the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. It will operate 24/7. The guiding principle of 988 is that it ensures that individuals always have "someone to call, someone to come to them (mobile response), and somewhere to go" Learn more about it here

The nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before. In this article, it notes that new research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds. You can read the article here.

We were delighted to join the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for Health and community members in a healthy walk on April 20th. To learn more about the Healthy Hunterdon Workforce Initiative contact Kim Blanda.

Join us for a Narcan virtual reality viewing event on May 12th at 6 PM in the Little Theater at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. It is important for members of our community to understand the value and critical need for Narcan. Please share this information and invite those that may not have access to this newsletter. If you can't join us in person, you can attend virtually. There will be light refreshments, prizes and more! You can register here.

Please join us and our partners from the One Voice Coalition for their next meeting/event on Thursday, May 12th at the Hunterdon County Library Headquarters on Rte. 12 from 11:30 - 1:00. Please contact Alison to RSVP. Lunch will be provided.

While DEA takeback day is held twice a year, you can discard medications any day by finding a drop box location near you.

Join Rocky Schwartz in a virtual yoga session each Thursday. Helps to reduce stress and prevent relapse. Zoom link to join