New Jersey legislature votes to advance bill legalizing cannabis

Committees from the New Jersey Assembly and Senate have voted in favour of bills that would legalize recreational cannabis and expunge the records of individuals convicted of minor cannabis offenses.

The Senate Judiciary committee approved the new laws in a 7-4 vote, with one abstention. Similarly, the Assembly Appropriations Committee agreed to advance the bill in a 6-1 vote, with two abstentions–although the bill was amended with little time to spare in order to revise tax structures and alter the qualifications for expungement.

 

 

In addition, both committees approved companion bills to revise medical cannabis qualifications and the procedure to expunge criminal records, respectively.

“This legislation is critically important as we move toward legalization of adult-use cannabis in New Jersey,” said Assembly Member and Democrat Jamel Holley, who sponsored one of the bills, in a press release.

“Without this bill, many residents would continue to be affected by the criminalization of small amounts of marijuana as a result of prior convictions long after the laws change. Broader regulation around expungement will give residents the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and clean the slate, enabling them to gain employment and seize the opportunities life presents them.”

State Director of the New Jersey Drug Policy Alliance Rosemary Scotti agreed.

“Today’s votes are an important step toward legalizing adult-use marijuana in New Jersey.  Although this bill is not perfect, we greatly appreciate the changes that the sponsors of the legislation have made based on the recommendations of advocates,” Scotti said in a press release.

Legislators had already approved a bill to legalize the drug, but the laws failed to advance to floor votes as a result of ongoing negotiations between lawmakers.

“While we are encouraged by the inclusion of provisions that our coalition has advocated for–such as expanded expungement–to better address fairness and equity, we are disappointed that there is no provision that allocates tax revenue generated by marijuana sales back to the communities most harmed by marijuana prohibition.”

Legislators had already approved a bill to legalize the drug, but the laws failed to advance to floor votes as a result of ongoing negotiations between lawmakers.