Lawmakers have said if the legalization bill doesn’t pass on Monday, it’s unlikely the medical marijuana expansion bill would pass, and that it all could be stalled until after the November elections.
That concern is real enough that the administration has a backup plan ready to roll out, NJ Advance Media has learned.
Two sources familiar with the situation say if New Jersey’s leaders can’t gather enough votes in the state Legislature to pass a bill legalizing marijuana in the Garden State, Murphy’s administration will launch a “contingency plan” to dramatically expand medical marijuana licenses.
The sources said the administration would add between 30 and 50 licenses for those who cultivate medical marijuana, and later expanding to manufacturers and dispensaries that sell it. New Jersey has six active medical marijuana dispensaries and it approved six more late last year.
The governor is still pushing to convince enough lawmakers to vote yes on legal weed Monday.