Recreational marijuana would be legalized and the medical cannabis program would be expanded under new legislation unveiled Friday in New Jersey.
The state is moving toward legalizing the drug under Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who while on the campaign trail promised to authorize recreational cannabis, but the Legislature has not moved on the issue beyond hearings and introducing legislation.
Murphy said Friday at an unrelated news conference in New Brunswick that he wants "to do both" recreational legalization and medical marijuana expansion, but stopped short of supporting the new bills. He added that he's had "good dialog" with lawmakers on the issue.
Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney and state Sen. Nicholas Scutari announced the new bills just weeks ahead of a June 30 budget deadline that has upped the stakes since Murphy is banking on revenue from legalization to balance his fiscal 2019 spending pan.