New Jersey could see marijuana delivery, “immediate” expungements and more dispensaries than previously allowed if the bills legislators are crafting make their way through the Legislature.
For the last several weeks, a handful of state lawmakers, some of the most powerful politicians in the state among them, have been drafting new marijuana legislation from the tangle of plans previously introduced this year.
The goal has been to arrive at two bills — one for medical marijuana and one for full legalization — that can satisfy Gov. Phil Murphy and win support from the majority of the Legislature.
After a marathon meeting last week, the legislators say they’ve agreed on major points of the dual bills and are preparing to present them to the Murphy administration soon.
Based on interviews with multiple lawmakers who have participated in the discussions, NJ Advance Media has learned of several of the key sections of the bills. Despite the current consensus, these ideas could still change.
“Everything is a guessing game because leadership still has to get the votes,” said Assemblyman Joseph Danielsen, D-Somerset, who has helped draft the bill. “There are a lot of moving parts. It’s like an erector set.”