Lawmakers are rallying around new legislation that may earn the approval of the Murphy administration. This proposed legislation would create civil penalties and warnings for underage users of the drug – a chief concern of Gov. Phil Murphy who has said that the state Legislature's initial plan didn't restrict underage adults and children for using the drug.
The new legislation, however, would effectively end searches of underaged people who are under suspicion of using or possessing the drug. Smelling the drug's odor would also not be a valid reason to investigate.
The Murphy administration did not discuss the potential deal with Patch, but Murphy said this weekend he's had a "good back and forth" and that he's hopeful that any issues can be resolved soon.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin also extended the deadline to make a deal to Thursday, allowing the Senate to "complete its discussions and conclude negotiations with the Assembly and governor on revisions to the cannabis legislation."