New Jersey’s top lawmakers are moving forward with a plan to legalize cannabis for recreational use, but new dispensaries aren’t likely to open any time soon.
“I think, best case scenario, you’re going to have marijuana available legally [in] January,” Senate President Steve Sweeney told reporters after a voting session on Thursday. “I’ve got to tell you guys, honest to God, the bill isn’t finished.”
Social justice is the primary reason Governor Phil Murphy and a host of politicians have pushed for legalization of cannabis in New Jersey.
Among the many effects of the War on Drugs – especially marijuana – has been the negative impact on communities of color from arrest rates to incarceration and now to the great difficulty in entering legal markets from the ownership side.
While the parties are closer than ever to a deal on legalization of cannabis, it’s unlikely all the details – and ayes – will be nailed down for a vote on Feb. 21.
Governor Phil Murphy, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin have reportedly reached agreement on two major issues that have held up passage of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act (S2703), the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act (S10) and s3205, which revises certain procedures for expungement of records of conviction.
There’s a good possibility a deal will be announced this week on legislation to authorize adult-use cannabis, expand the medical marijuana program and provide a path for expungement for marijuana possession offenses.
Several sources told NJ Cannabis Media a deal may be imminent. Multiple sources have said the same thing to other media outlets.
The bill fails “to define acute intoxication, which, in accord with precedent from the New Jersey Supreme Court, gives broad discretion to law enforcement to determine cannabis intoxication in the absence of scientific-based proof.”
Part 2 of NJ Cannabis Media’s special report on stigma and the cannabis industry.
How important are words in fighting stigma surrounding an industry that is based on a plant?
Consider the changes made to New Jersey Bills S2703 and S10.
Of the many revisions to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act (S2703/A4497) which would legalize personal use cannabis for adults, one that has a large impact is the removal of a cap on the number of licenses to be issued.
4. New Jersey will be next state to legalize recreational marijuana.
While the governor and state legislators weigh the minimum wage bill, another pending piece of legislation moving forward in the state capitol would legalize the personal use of recreational marijuana for individuals who are 21 or older, though certain components of the proposed measure still need to be ironed out.
Despite approval of three cannabis bills, including adult use legalization, following a four hour hearing held before the joint session of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Budget and Appropriation Committees on November 26, 2018, it appears unlikely that marijuana legislation will be voted upon in 2018. December 17, 2018 is the latest voting day of the legislative year and work still remains on gaining consensus on key issues in the bills including the tax rate, expungements and whether the proposed Cannabis Regulatory Commission would be a full-time commission.