Sources told Patch that the Murphy administration wants to make sure there are penalties for underaged, under-21 users. The legislation appears to not provide any kind of legal mechanism that would penalize underaged users.
The objection comes just weeks after the state New Jersey Assembly and Senate voted in favor of legislation that clears the way and creates a framework for marijuana legalization in 2021. The bill needs Gov. Phil Murphy's signature to become law.
Although New Jersey voters already, and overwhelmingly, approved marijuana legalization in the November election, state legislation was necessary to create a framework for recreational use of the drug once it's supposed to become legal on Jan. 1, 2021.