Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s “optimistic” about finalizing a deal on a long-awaited bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in New Jersey, but he has no timeline on when that will happen or when lawmakers will vote on the measure.
“We’re still trying to machine this to get it over the goal line, but I think we’re all working really hard to get this done,” Murphy said at an unrelated press conference in Piscataway late Tuesday morning.
An agreement on marijuana legalization in New Jersey isn’t yet complete, and despite recent progress and optimism, there’s still not a timetable for a vote.
Reports were published Friday night that a deal had finally been reached on one of Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign promises and first-year priorities. But after signing an unrelated law Tuesday expanding New Jersey’s paid family leave program, Murphy indicated to reporters that work on the issue continues.
Gov. Phil Murphy and Senate President Steve Sweeney appear to have a deal on the legalization of marijuana, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.
The agreement between the governor and the senate leader will still need the approval of the Legislature.
Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders have reached a broad agreement on a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey, according to four sources familiar with the negotiations.
“The consensus on the broad strokes is relatively fresh, so the details are still being worked out,” one source with direct knowledge of the talks told POLITICO.
State Sen. Nicholas Scutari played a key role in the negotiations, the source said. The Union County Democrat could not immediately be reached for comment Friday evening.
Legislative leaders might waive the advice and consent process on Gov. Phil Murphy’s nominees to a proposed commission that would govern New Jersey‘s legal cannabis market, three legislative sources said. The softening of the lawmakers’ stance could help clear the way for a deal on marijuana legalization that could come by the end of the week, the sources said.
State leaders have made significant progress on plans to legalize marijuana in New Jersey and could move forward on new legislation as early as next week.
Several sources close to the negotiations told NJ.com that an updated legalization bill and renewed debate in the state Legislature could come “any day now," though when exactly a new measure might be introduced and when a vote could be held remains unclear. Also unclear: whether it would pass a vote.
Instead of an excise tax that could be anywhere from 12 percent (Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s stated cap) up to 25 percent (Murphy’s initial offer), there would be a consistent rate based on the amount of the sale no matter what the price is.
Also seen as a positive: Murphy naming George Helmy to be his new chief of staff.
However, another industry insider did not share the rosy outlook.
Another week has come and gone and once again there is no news to report on the status of legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis and expand the medicinal marijuana program.
The scheduled Jan. 10 meeting between Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin did not happen – apparently a casualty of the the special legislative committee investigating how Murphy’s team responded to Katie Brennan’s rape allegations.
The trio may reschedule the meeting for later this month, according to multiple reports.
Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders put off a meeting scheduled last Thursday that was supposed to address legalizing marijuana and the $15 minimum wage plan, sources told Patch. The meeting was supposed to come just days before Murphy's State-of-the-State address.
Murphy's office said it had a scheduling conflict, and it was "mutually agreed upon" to reschedule. Officials did say that delaying the meeting "does not delay anything of substance – staff conversations are happening on an ongoing basis."
New Jersey’s top three elected state officials won’t meet Thursday after all to resume talks about finally increasing the minimum wage and legalizing marijuana in the state.
Gov. Phil Murphy and his fellow Democrats who lead the state Legislature — state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex — had tentatively planned to sit down for their first meeting of the new year.
But the session has been postponed, three legislative sources and an administration source confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Wednesday.