This excerpt is from Governor Phil Murphy’s address to the League Delegates Luncheon of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Annual Conference in Atlantic City on Nov. 15:
I remain equally committed to sensible legislation to legalize adult use marijuana, and to continue to expand our medical marijuana program, which can also be an important tool to fighting our opioid epidemic.
From economic to social justice, the focus of “Greening Up the Garden State: Responsible Cannabis Policy N.J.” was almost 180 degrees from some of the dire opinions and questions asked at “Marijuana Legalization: A State & Local Perspective.”
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has targeted Nov. 26 for a committee vote on legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis, expand the medical marijuana program and provide social justice.
“We’ll have [a bill] out of both committees by the end of the month,” Sweeney told reporters at the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City on Nov. 14. “There’s a medical bill. There’s an adult-use bill. And there’s a separate social justice piece that Sen. [Sandra] Cunningham is doing. We want to do all of them together.”
I remain equally committed to sensible legislation to legalize adult use of marijuana, and to continue to expand our medical marijuana program, which can also be an important tool to fighting our opioid epidemic.
I know that some of you have already taken steps in your communities to prevent such sales once I sign a legalization bill into law – and, make no mistake, assuming the Legislature gets it to me, I will.
Bad relationships with leaders in his own party, a weak response to sexual assault allegations against a staff member and unprecedented fiscal challenges have hampered Gov. Phil Murphy’s first year in office, according to a bipartisan panel of former governors and current academics.
They gave Murphy less than stellar grades this week at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities’ annual conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center, in a popular annual panel.
At League of Municipalities conference, it’s clear that getting votes for tokes is going to take more than just lining up legislators
Marijuana cultivation
State Senate President Steve Sweeney has drawn a line in the sand regarding adult-use marijuana legalization, but local leaders have their own recommendations and concerns.
“We’ll have (a bill) out of both committees by the end of the month,” Sweeney told reporters at the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City, meaning a legislative debate on the subject could begin within days.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat, spoke Wednesday at the state League of Municipalities annual conference in Atlantic City. Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney said afterward he also plans a committee vote this month.
It's the latest timeline on an issue that moved to the forefront when Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy took office in January.
The move, which follows a Sept. 12 advisory from the New Jersey State League of Municipalities on the direction of proposed marijuana legislation in Trenton, was introduced as a proposed ordinance on Sept. 13 and was unanimously ratified by the governing body on Thursday.
Wantage Mayor Bill Gaechter said that with momentum building in the state Legislature to have New Jersey become the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana, township officials felt it advisable to act now rather than be caught flat-footed after the fact by whatever legislation emerges.
As wrangling continues over a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey, which proponents say could generate $80 million to $100 million in annual revenues, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities is warning mayors that time is of the essence to protect their towns against costs—and to reach for their slice of the pie.
Meanwhile, many Pascack Valley and Northern Valley municipalities have come out strongly against legalization and local sales.