NJ Sets Yet Another New Timeframe For Legalizing Marijuana

Lawmakers say they're no longer targeting Oct. 29 as the date to vote on a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey.

Two top lawmakers, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, are now expecting to get something voted on – and passed – by the end of the year, Patch has learned.

The lawmakers apparently still need to iron out their differences with what the Murphy administration wants. It wasn't exactly clear at press time what all those differences were, but Patch has learned that Sweeney and Murphy differ on the amount of the tax. Sweeney has said that the tax should be no more than 12 percent.

Coughlin said during a press conference this week that lawmakers want to make sure they get the legislation "right" before moving forward on it.

"The current system doesn't work because, A, it doesn't prevent eople from using marijuana and, B it has led to a great deal of social injustice," Coughlin said during an interview this week.

There also may not be enough votes.

Assemblyman Ronald Rice, D-Essex, told Patch this week that he's not prepared to support legalization. A former police officer, Rice believes legalization will encourage crime and intoxicated driving. He supports decriminalization instead.

"I think legalization would be a mistake," the Democrat said.

Lawmakers were also starting to hedge their bets this past week now that investigations into an alleged sex assault committed by a former Murphy staffer have been launched.

Lawmakers privately told nj.com they believe it's possible the work required to launch the investigations could push back the marijuana bill vote.

Read more: Yes, NJ Marijuana Legalization Vote Could Be Delayed: Here's Why

Murphy and lawmakers had been looking at Oct 29 as the day the state Legislature should pass a bill legalizing marijuana in New Jersey. It was not clear if the governor would actually sign it that day, or right afterward.

Murphy was asked about marijuana legalization during a recent Facebook live interview, and he told the audience that he's looking at signing something "sooner than later." The governor's office declined to comment on pending legislation.

"We've had good exchanges with both the legislative leadership sponsors and, most importantly, the teams in the trenches crafting this," Murphy said. "I think it's sooner than later."

Murphy said there will be several pieces to the legislation, including expansion of the medical marijuana program. The "biggest mountain to climb," he said, will be legalizing the drug for recreational use.

Just don't expect pot to be sold in stores right away.

Kate Bell, legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington D.C., told nj.com that the regulatory and licensing process could take another six months after the legislation is passed. That schedule could move a lot more quickly if medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed to meet the demand.

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