State legislative leaders on Monday brushed aside a previous plan to vote on legalizing recreational pot in New Jersey by Oct. 29.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin called marijuana legalization a “seismic” shift in public policy and not a thing that can be rushed. Complicating the issue further, Coughlin said, is that legalization would create a whole new industry in the state.
Making pot legal was a campaign promise of Gov. Phil Murphy.
However, notwithstanding his overwhelming win almost a year ago and Democratic control of the Legislature, the goal hasn’t been met.
One obvious problem seems to be that while most lawmakers are Democrats, not all Democrats are as socially liberal as the governor. Many fear a public backlash. This is a bit odd considering that most polls show broad support for legalizing marijuana, something which was just accomplished throughout Canada.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney admitted there still is work to do on marijuana legalization. But he expressed confidence that when all is said and done, there will be at least 21 supporters in the Senate and 41 in the Assembly, the minimum needed for passage