The attached poll commissioned in May by the labor-tied Project NJ Building for a Better Future, found that New Jerseyans overwhelmingly support medical marijuana and are split on recreational marijuana, and a majority of New Jerseyans want 100 or fewer recreational marijuana stores if marijuana is legalized for adult use.
Two sources familiar with negotiations between the two houses of the Legislature have confirmed that Senators Sweeney, Scutari, and Vitale, and Assemblymen Coughlin, Danielsen, and Holley met at least twice over the past month to hammer out legislation to expand the state’s medical marijuana program and, separately, to legalize marijuana for adult use. One point of contention between the Legislature and the Governor’s Office will be the number of licensed growers and dispensaries in a legalized marijuana market. The Governor’s Office previously sought 400 to 1,200 recreational marijuana dispensaries during negotiations in June, while some legislators remain anxious to avoid the Colorado model of marijuana dispensaries on every street corner and would prefer to limit the number to 80 to 100 statewide (roughly the same number as Taco Bells in the state), and 20 to 30 growers and manufacturers to avoid the oversupply and diversion challenges faced by West Coast states that have legalized marijuana.