New Jersey lawmakers postponed a vote on Monday that would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state, but advocates, including New Jersey CannaBusiness Association President Scott Rudder, told Cheddar the decision are calling it a “temporary setback.”
“The concerns yesterday were [that] we need more time. It’s a 177 page document that's going to end 81 years of prohibition and establish an industry in its place. That necessarily takes time," said Rudder, who is also a lobbyist at Burton Trent.
Rudder said many Republican lawmakers were upset last week, when language surrounding expungements in the a package of legalization bills was changed. The bill would have to allow people with convictions for possessing up to five pounds of marijuana to have their records cleared ー compared with a previous cap of 50 grams. Lawmakers didn't have enough time to ease those concerns, Rudder said.