The New Jersey Assembly on Thursday voted 65-5, with six abstentions, to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, a measure that could significantly boost sales in what has become a fast-growing market.
The measure paves the way for the state to issue additional business licenses, cannabis home delivery and a more-liberal MMJ recommendation process.
MMJ program oversight would transfer from the state Department of Health to a dedicated regulatory commission.
The bill now will move to the state Senate, where it is expected to see a vote as soon as May 30.
Expansion of the state’s MMJ program was targeted as Plan B after an effort to legalize adult-use cannabis stalled.
New Jersey’s MMJ program has experienced an upswing since Gov. Phil Murphy took office early last year and expanded qualifying medical conditions. The number of MMJ patients now totals over 46,500, more than double since Murphy took office.