Relief for those with minor marijuana convictions in New Jersey could be inching closer, as the state Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday on changes Gov. Phil Murphy made a bill that would allow people to have their records expunged.
But it’s not clear if the Senate is ready to concur with the governor’s proposals.
“We’re not there right now, to be honest,” Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told NJ Advance Media. “We think we did a good job with the bill. Unfortunately, he made the changes to it. Expungement’s important, but we thought the original bill was a good bill.”
In late August, Murphy conditionally vetoed the bill seeking to revamp the state’s outdated and cumbersome process after both houses of the legislature voted to pass it in June.
Talks about the cannabis industry and legalization have revolved around social justice and equity from the beginning, with politicians and advocates calling for a remedy for those whose records are tainted by minor marijuana charges.