Murphy said he’s open to signing both bills, but “the devil will be in the details.”
Sweeney had tied the legalization bill, NJ S2703 (18R), to the two other measures relating to the state’s burgeoning medical marijuana industry and criminal justice reform.
The first, NJ S10 (18R), is a bipartisan bill that would expand the medical cannabis program by increasing monthly prescription amounts to three ounces and creating separate permits for medical marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries. The bill also allows physician assistants and advanced practice nurses to prescribe medical cannabis to patients.
The Murphy administration, through the Department of Health, moved to replicate some of what’s in the bill earlier this week — most notably by breaking up the permits for different types of cannabis businesses.
Another bill, NJ A4498 (18R), created new processes for clearing old criminal records. Individuals would be eligible for the new form of expungement — called “clean slate” in the legislation — if they’re at least 10 years removed from their most recent conviction, fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole or release from incarceration.