The state senator leading the charge on legal weed in New Jersey is expected to introduce a new plan that would bring recreational marijuana to the state while expanding the medical marijuana program, according to multiple sources in New Jersey's marijuana industry.
State Sen. Nicholas Scutari on Thursday is unveiling his plan, a combined bill that aims to address the two biggest marijuana-related issues in New Jersey: an expansion of medical marijuana and full legalization of weed for adults.
This is the first bill introduced that combines the two efforts.
Scutari, D-Union, is also expected to introduce two other bills that address the medical marijuana expansion and recreational weed separately, likely because the idea of a merged bill hasn't been well-received.
State Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, said on Thursday that he would not support a combined bill. Vitale, an opponent of recreational marijuana, said he hadn't seen the legislation yet, but said there was nothing Scutari could put in a merged bill that would sway him to support the plan.
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