Cannabis-related lobbying expenses climbed 32% last year from $1.4 million to $1.9 million. It’s a new category of lobbying spending in New Jersey, and experts only expect those numbers to increase in 2020, as residents vote in November on a ballot question to legalize marijuana for those over 21.
“The spending we’ve seen so far on lobbying, while substantial, may just be a warmup act to this year’s star event — the referendum,” Brindle said. “Given the big numbers from other states and the fact that the creation of a lucrative new industry hangs in the balance, it isn’t inconceivable that the fall ballot contest could cost upwards of $10 million."
The state Legislature tried multiple times to pass a bill legalizing marijuana, but fell short of the votes needed in the state Senate. Still, work by lawmakers and lobbying efforts did lead to a major expansion of the medical marijuana program.
Over the past three years, cannabis groups have spent a total of $3.8 million on issues like medical expansion, legalization and decriminalization. New Jersey has yet to decriminalize possession of marijuana, but lawmakers have said they are working on a bill they hope to pass before the referendum.
Eleven states have legalized marijuana so far, and most have done so by going directly to the voters. Groups across the country spent some $141 million on the questions, for an average of $8 million, according to followthemoney.org.