Legal weed in New Jersey is dead. After a prolonged attempt at resuscitation, it was called at 11 a.m. on Wednesday by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
Well, actually, wasn’t it dead already? What were the odds Gov. Phil Murphy or legislative leaders were going to get the votes for it? Everyone was dug in. Maybe there was a glimmer of hope for supporters, but that was extinguished by the tax incentives fight. And those who don’t want to see the tax incentives examined so closely certainly have an interest in blaming the marijuana legislative failure on the investigation.
Now Sweeney is talking about a public referendum in 2020, though it’s not clear at this point if it would have to be a constitutional amendment. Poll after poll has shown overwhelming public support for the idea of legalizing marijuana.
But you have to wonder what that ballot question will look like? And even supporters of legal weed have been known to vote against it if it doesn’t look like a fair system is being put in place. Read more about the legal weed situation here.
And now onto the next fight with Murphy: Sweeney finally introduces his “Path to Progress” bills today.