Latest news on the New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Amendment
July 28 — A new DKC Analytics poll found that 68% of New Jersey registered voters support adult-use cannabis legalization. The favorable numbers are up significantly from a Monmouth University poll in April, which found 61% support on the issue. More at NJ.com.
Full text: NJ Marijuana Legalization Amendment
Read the full proposal here: New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Amendment (S2703/A4497)
Sixty-seven percent of respondents — including majorities of Democrats (78 percent), Independents (63 percent), and Republicans (57 percent) — back the November 2020 measure, which amends the state Constitution to permit the possession, production, and retail sale of cannabis to those age 21 or older. That’s an increase of six percentage points since voters were last posed the question in April.
A supermajority of New Jersey voters say in a new poll that they support a marijuana legalization referendum that will appear on the November ballot.
The survey, which was conducted by DKC Analytics and released on Tuesday, shows that 68 percent of respondents back the policy change. That’s a seven percentage point increase compared to a separate poll on the issue released in April.
The survey also shows that voters support allowing social consumption lounges for cannabis, 50 percent to 38 percent.
On a national level, 37 states have instituted some type of cannabis law reform policies: 11 states have legalized adult use cannabis, 15 states have decriminalized cannabis use, and 11 states have legalized medicinal cannabis. Despite more than half of the country legalizing or decriminalizing cannabis, law enforcement still made more than 6.1 million cannabis arrests over the past eight years. By comparison, police made more arrests for cannabis possession than for all violent crimes combined.
In 27 states, tax revenue budgets are expected to drop by 10% or more. According to Barron’s, Burleson noted that cannabis reform has received attention in nine of those states, saying, “We expect budget concerns to prompt resurgent legalization efforts for these and other challenged states.”
NJ CAN 2020, the political committee leading the charge to legalize marijuana in November, announced Axel Owen as the campaign manager for the inclusive and robust effort leading to a “yes” vote on the 2020 ballot question to legalize cannabis in New Jersey.
The coalition advocating for passage of a referendum to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, has tapped a top state political operative to manage their campaign.
Axel Owen, a former Democratic State Committee political director, will lead NJ CAN 2020, an alliance of organizations forging a joint campaign for a yes vote in the November general election.
Proposed Assembly Bills 1897 and 4269 would decriminalize certain amounts of cannabis possession, while scaling back penalties for what would still be arrestable and convictable offenses.
The measures, which were introduced at the Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee on Monday, passed by a 63-10 vote with five abstentions at the Assembly’s remotely held hearing, and with no discussion among any members. A Senate version was introduced on March 16 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has not gone anywhere since.
With recreational marijuana legalization potentially coming soon to New Jersey, Lacey officials discussed the future of dispensaries in town. The Township Committee introduced two ordinances Thursday: one to allow a medical marijuana dispensary in the business park and another prohibiting recreational dispensaries in the township.
New Jersey voters will decide in the November election whether to legalize recreational marijuana in the Garden State. If it passes, state legislature would need to decide on the details and regulations.