NJ Marijuana Bill Passes First Big Test

Lawmakers have renewed efforts to make big changes in how marijuana is used in New Jersey, and one bill passed its first big test on Thursday.

The state Assembly voted 65-5 to vastly expand New Jersey's medical marijuana program on Thursday. The same legislation cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee this week.

There were hopes that the Senate would pass the legislation, too, on Thursday. But the state Senate canceled its session on Thursday. If the Senate approves the measure, then Gov. Phil Murphy can sign it.

The five who opposed were all Republicans: Erik Peterson, R-Hunterdon; DiAnne C. Gove and Brian E. Rumpf, both R-Ocean; Amy H. Handlin, R-Monmouth; and Jay Webber, R-Morris.

Another bill that would revise procedures and eligibility for the expungement of criminal records – including marijuana busts – also cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee this week. It did not come up for a vote on Thursday.

Another Assembly bill, A-5325, would essentially decriminalize marijuana. Anyone possessing up to two ounces of marijuana would be subject to a civil penalty of $50. Right now, possession of a small amount of marijuana is a fourth-degree crime that could land somebody in prison for up to 18 months and force them to pay a $10,000 fine.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, however, said that bill has no chance of passing.

Top lawmakers announced last week that they're dropping legislative efforts to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. Now they'll ask voters in November 2020 refererndum to legalize recreational pot, Senate President Steve Sweeney announced. Read more: NJ Marijuana Legalization Bill Is Dead: Voters Will Decide

The medical marijuana bill would transform what was one of the more restrictive medical marijuana programs in the country into one that is accessible, affordable and better serves the needs of patients, lawmakers said.

The bill, S-10, would allow medical use for a more extensive list of diagnosed conditions, increase the number of dispensaries and expand the list of professionals who can authorize patients for the medical use of cannabis, lawmakers say.

The bill also would increase access to caregivers, increase the amount of medical cannabis that patients could obtain and end the state tax on cannabis used for medicinal purposes on Jan. 1, 2025. It would also establish a five member Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Joseph Vitale, the chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee; and Senator Nicholas Scutari, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“This will entirely reform the way New Jersey manages medical marijuana in the state. Marijuana has proven to be a safe and effective treatment of a large variety of ailments, from chronic pain to migraines. This bill will help those in need by removing barriers to access for patients, it gives doctors and other caregivers the ability to make use of the medicinal qualities of cannabis and will make these important products more affordable,” said Vitale, D-Middlesex. “The current restrictions are unreasonable and it is time health care providers are able to offer their patients these effective, often safer, treatments.”

The legislation was passed by a vote of 7-0 and next moves to the full Senate.

The expungement bill, S-3205, would expand the categories of people eligible, and an expungement request could proceed once the individual met certain time period requirements.

The bill would establish a “clean slate” which would allow individuals not otherwise eligible for an expungement to file an application after 10 years from the date they were released, completed probation or completed parole, whichever came last, lawmakers say.

Under the bill, those who were still working to pay off fines would be eligible and the collections would be transferred to the state treasurer.

The legislation is sponsored by Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Sweeney.

“We must reform our criminal justice system and gear it towards rehabilitation, to do that we must ensure those who have gone through the system are given a fair shot when they get out,” said Cunningham, D-Hudson. “Far too many Americans spend the rest of their life fighting the stigma around their conviction, hindering their ability to find a place to live or get a job. Expanding the eligibility for expungement will allow more individuals to remove that stigma and break down those barriers preventing them from reaching their full potential.”

The bill was released from committee by a vote of 6-0.