Sources say the reason for the hold-up is because the governor’s office is grappling with a lawsuit threat from the NAACP, which claims Murphy violated the law that created the commission by failing to appoint one commissioner who is a member of a national social justice or civil rights group. Murphy faces additional criticism that no one on the commission is a Black man, given that the governor has framed legalization as a racial justice issue and Black men have historically been disproportionately arrested and charged for marijuana-related offenses.
Murphy announced the full slate of the five-member commission on February 25th, just days after the marijuana bills were signed. But those appointments were not officially filed with the New Jersey Secretary of State, as required by law, a spokeswoman from that office said Wednesday. That’s because Murphy is considering swapping out one of those appointees, sources said. Politico New Jersey also reported Wednesday that an administration official said Murphy is considering a replacement.
Another option would be to add seats to the commission, though that would require additional legislation.
“Nothing new on the cannabis commission,” Murphy said Wednesday at a press conference.
One name circulating as a possible new appointee is R. Todd Edwards, a Black man who serves as the state NAACP’s political action chairman. Edwards has personal experience with cannabis enforcement -- he said he was once arrested but not convicted for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Edwards is a funeral director, and a conviction could have threatened his license.