New Jersey is offering a lot more than you might expect if – or once – marijuana becomes legal in the state by the end of the month, according to a new draft of the bill provided to Patch.
And lawmakers are also establishing a bunch of parameters, too. Patch has a list of 16 things you need to know below.
Lawmakers will hold committee hearings on Monday now that Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders have come to an agreement that will likely lead to marijuana legalization.
But there's a lot more to the bill than meets the eye. If passed – possibly on March 25 – here are 16 things that would be allowed or restricted if marijuana becomes legal:
New Jersey residents who are 21 and over would be allowed to purchase and possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and it could be used in their private homes. It would not be allowed in government-subsidized housing. Retailers could apply for a consumption space.
Delivery of marijuana would be allowed under a set of parameters, including requiring each driver to be a certified handler.
Medical marijuana centers would automatically qualify for recreational licenses.
Employers would not be able to discriminate against marijuana users or prior offenders in their hiring decisions, according to the original draft (but Senate President Stephen Sweeney, in a big update anounced on Friday, suggested that you may be denied a job, or lose a job, if you test positive for marijuana).
Lenders also wouldn't be able to discriminate against anyone for mortgage loans.
You would not be allowed to drive while under the influence of marijuana. It's not clear how that provision would be enforced.
How much you would pay still isn't exactly clear. Growers would have to pay a tax of $42 per ounce.
If the bill is written the way it's written, however, New Jerseyans would pay possibly the lowest marijuana tax in the country: 10 percent, according to nj.com.
Local communities would be given the opportunity to prevent a marijuana business from opening in their town, and they can even ban the sale of cannabis.
Municipalities that are home to a cultivator or manufacturer would receive the revenue from a 2 percent tax on the product within their jurisdiction, lawmakers say.
Municipalities that are home to a wholesaler would receive the revenue from a 1 percent tax on the product within their jurisdiction.
Municipalities that are home to a retailer would receive the revenue from a 3 percent tax on the product within their jurisdiction.
Provisions in the bill establish an expedited expungement process for individuals convicted of low-level marijuana offenses. But the bill would prevent offenses that happen in certain areas – such as educational facilities – from being discarded.
Requests involving expungement should be expedited within 45 days and applicants can apply for legal assistance.
Adult-use marijuana will be governed by a Cannabis Regulatory Commission, composed of five members. Three members would be appointed by the governor, with the governor's initial appointments to serve terms of at least four years and not be subject to Senate confirmation. Two other members would be appointed by the governor, upon the recommendations of the Assembly speaker and senate president.
The commission will promulgate all regulations to govern the industry and will oversee the applications for licensing of adult-use marijuana dispensaries.
"Legalizing adult-use marijuana is a monumental step to reducing disparities in our criminal justice system," said Murphy. "After months of hard work and thoughtful negotiations, I'm thrilled to announce an agreement with my partners in the Legislature on the broad outlines of adult-use marijuana legislation."