Politics & Government

NJ Pot Legalization Expected Soon: What You Need To Know

With Phil Murphy's election as governor, marijuana legalization is all but certain in New Jersey.

Will you be able to buy pot at your local convenience store? Hard to say, but Democrat Phil Murphy's victory in the governor's race Tuesday means that marijuana legalization is a practical certainty in New Jersey.

Since Murphy made marijuana legalization a central part of his platform in Tuesday's election, there will likely be a way to purchase it somehow, someway in New Jersey possibly by late next year. Legislation could be passed by April.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney says his goal was to get a pot legalization measure passed within 100 days of the Murphy administration. Murphy, who defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, will be sworn-in on Jan. 16, 2018.

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The man who sponsored the legislation to legalize marijuana, Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, told reporters this week that Murphy's election means "it's full-steam ahead" on the measure.

"We should begin the process of shaping our marijuana laws now so that we are prepared to move forward with the best program for our state," said Scutari.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Outgoing Gov. Chris Christie opposed marijuana legalization, as did Guadagno, because of fears that it could be a gateway for harder drugs.

But Sweeney disputes that, and says the state could benefit from the taxes drawn from an estimated $1.3 billion industry. He emphasized the importance of looking at how other states have gone through the legalization process, and make sure the procedure is safe and effective in New Jersey

"It's about jobs," Sweeney said. "It's about creating jobs. This is an industry that's in its infant stage and we have the benefit of learning all the mistakes that everyone else has done."

Just don't expect pot to be sold in stores by April. Kate Bell, legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington D.C., told nj.com that the regulatory process could take at least six months, and then the licensing process is 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.

Not everyone is likely to jump on the pot bandwagon, however. Not everyone is expected to get a license to sell, according to NJBIZ, and a number of businesses may not be willing to deal with the industry since, technically, marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

The Obama administration chose largely not to enforce the federal statutes, but the Trump administration could treat the issue differently.

Garden shops could be one of the places where marijuana is available to purchase, believe it or not. Here is how NJBIZ views the situation:

New Jersey would be the ninth state to legalize marijuana. The others are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine, Alaska and Colorado.

Sweeney has emphasized that Scutari's legislation will likely be the bill that legalizes marijuana. Here's what it would do:

  • The possession and personal use of small amounts — one ounce or less — of marijuana would be legal for people age 21 and over.
  • The manufacture, possession or purchase of marijuana accessories, or the sale of marijuana accessories to a person who is 21 years of age or older, would also be legal.
  • Purchasing of marijuana from a marijuana cultivation facility or a "retail marijuana store" that licensed to sell the product would be legal.
  • Packaging, processing, transporting, manufacturing, displaying, or possessing marijuana or marijuana products would be legal.
  • Leasing or allowing the use of property owned, occupied or controlled by any person, corporation or other entity for marijuana use, possession and manufacturing would be legal.

Watch Now: NJ Pot Legalization Expected Soon


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