Murphy's move could focus the minds of lawmakers, who currently are considering more than a dozen marijuana-related bills, including three that would allow sales and possession of the drug, one that would reduce possession of small amounts to a civil offense like a parking ticket, and others that would expand medical access. The mishmash of bills— and Murphy's own reluctance to spell out details— has created a bureaucratic logjam around marijuana.
"We're going to get re-focused on this," said state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, the author of one of the legalization bills. "If people are educated on the facts, I believe we'll win them over."