Gov. Phil Murphy Backs Marijuana Decriminalization In New Jersey

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has changed course, saying he now backs marijuana decriminalization since lawmakers have tried – and failed – to legalize the drug.

Murphy said decriminalization of adult-use marijuana "cannot be our long-term solution, but we now must turn to it for critical short-term relief while we await a ballot measure on legalization next November."

Murphy had previously opposed decriminalization, saying it would essentially legalize the "black market" of illegal drug-dealing.

But maintaining a status quo, Murphy said, that sees roughly 600 individuals, disproportionately people of color, arrested in New Jersey every week for low-level drug offenses is "wholly unacceptable."

“Although I remain disappointed in the Legislature’s inability to legislatively legalize adult-use marijuana, I am optimistic that the people of New Jersey, who overwhelmingly support legalization, will vote to do so," he said. And, when they do, we will take a critical and long overdue step for real criminal justice reform.”

His statement on Tuesday came a week after lawmakers announced that they will go directly to the voters to decide whether to legalize marijuana in 2020.

After a last-ditch attempt to get legislative approval, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Nicholas Scutari, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said they will seek voter approval of a constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use marijuana in New Jersey.

The initiative, they said, "will bring cannabis out of the underground so that it can be controlled to ensure a safe product, strictly regulated to limit use to adults and have sales subjected to the sales tax."

"We will have the Legislature vote on the plan during the current legislative session and expect the proposal to be on the ballot in 2020, when voter turnout will be maximized for the national election," they said. "We are confident it will be approved by the Senate, the Assembly and the voters."

Read more: NJ Voters Will Decide Whether To Legalize Marijuana: Lawmakers

Efforts to pass the bill earlier in the year fell about 5 votes short. Read more: New Jersey Cancels Vote On Marijuana Legalization

Those no-votes included Sen. Richard Codey, the former acting governor, and Sen. Ron Rice, both D-Essex. Rice, a former police officer, said he prefers to decriminalize the drug.

Throughout the legislative process, Murphy and Sweeney also struggled to find themselves on the same page on the issue.

Sources close to Patch say negotiations slowed to a crawl since the Murphy administration has been investigating whether corporations misused tax breaks in past years, including one company owned by Democratic powerbroker George Norcross, a close ally of Sweeney.

Sweeney and Scutari now say that, even though they made further attempts to generate additional support in the Senate, "we recognize that the votes just aren't there. We respect the positions taken by legislators on what is an issue of conscience."

"We will now move forward with a plan that helps correct social and legal injustices that have had a discriminatory impact on communities of color. We can make real progress towards social justice at the same time that cannabis is made safe and legal," they sad.

If it's approved in November 2020, pot wouldn't be sold in stores for another six months to a year after that because of the lengthy regulatory process that needs to be developed.

Four months ago, Murphy signed legislation designed to make medical marijuana more accessible to patients who could benefit from it. Read more: Murphy Signs 17 Bills Into Law: Huge Step For Medical Marijuana

Lawmakers are also planning to expunge the records of many residents with past convictions.

Sweeney has said he wants to achieve progress on social justice reforms with legislation to revise procedures and eligibility for the expungement of criminal records.

"We want to move forward to help transform the state's medical marijuana program and to achieve the progressive reforms for social justice," he said. Read more: 9 Changes To Expand Marijuana Access In NJ As Legalization Stalls