The exact language of the referendum that will appear on all New Jersey ballots will as follows:
"Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’? Only adults at least 21 years of age could use cannabis. The State commission created to oversee the State’s medical cannabis program would also oversee the new, personal use cannabis market. Cannabis products would be subject to the State sales tax. If authorized by the Legislature, a municipality may pass a local ordinance to charge a local tax on cannabis products."
A "yes" vote is in favor of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey; a "no" vote is against legalization.
The measure to add this ballot question was approved in December 2019 following a series of failed attempts to legalize weed by politicians in the state legislature.
Medical marijuana is legal in New Jersey. However, there are only nine operating dispensaries in the entire state due to a limited number of dispensary licenses available.
Recent polls continue to show many New Jersey residents are in favor of the constitutional amendment, by a measure of 2 to 1, according to surveys. Eleven states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana since 2012, and New Jersey is one of four states where voters are being asked whether they support adult-use legalization of pot for non-medical purposes.
Here is a look at both sides of the issue in New Jersey.