New Timeline – And A Vote – Set For NJ Marijuana Legalization

A new timeline and a possible vote on legalizing marijuana in New Jersey are now set, lawmakers say.

Lawmakers will begin voting next week on legalizing marijuana for adults over age 21 in New Jersey, according to Senate President Stephen Sweeney's office.

State Assembly and Senate committees will hold a hearing and then vote on a legalization bill on Monday, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m., according to Sweeney's office. The site of the hearing and the vote was not immediately clear.

The legislation would then need the votes of the full Assembly and Senate, and then Gov. Phil Murphy's signature, in order to become law.

Sweeney's office acknowledged that the senate president doesn't have an agreement with the Murphy administration on how the legislation should proceed. Conflicts over how much marijuana should be taxed – among other issues – have impeded the legislation's progress. Sweeney has said that the tax should be no more than 12 percent.

But Senate leaders are tired of waiting, and want to move forward, Sweeney's office said.

Murphy's deputy press secretary, Alyana Alfaro, released a statement, saying: “Governor Murphy remains committed to legalizing adult-use marijuana, a critical step in eliminating racial disparities in our criminal justice system.

"The governor is committed to working with the Legislature to legalize adult-use marijuana the right way, one that makes the state fairer, prioritizes the safety of New Jersey residents, and ensures that some of the economic benefits go the communities hardest hit by the war on drugs.”

There also have been questions as to whether there will be enough votes.

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

Murphy, meanwhile, 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."

"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. The regulatory and licensing process could take another six months after the legislation is passed, health officials say. That schedule could move a lot more quickly if medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed to meet the demand.

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