Gov. Phil Murphy and lawmakers continue to struggle to strike a deal that will allow New Jersey to begin the process of selling marijuana in New Jersey. But they’re also raising hopes that some agreement could be reached soon.
Lawmakers extended a Monday deadline for Murphy to act on legislation that would begin the process of selling marijuana, signaling that all sides may be able to work out issues that have prevented a deal from happening.
Murphy, speaking during a news conference on Monday, said he’s had a “good back and forth” and that he’s hopeful that any issues can be resolved soon. Read more: WATCH: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Coronavirus, Vaccines Update
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin extended the deadline to Feb. 18, allowing the Senate to “complete its discussions and conclude negotiations with the Assembly and governor on revisions to the cannabis legislation.”
The legislation would address Murphy’s concerns that the state Legislature’s bill doesn’t penalize underage adults and children for using the drug.
“Voters overwhelmingly support the legalization of cannabis and we are taking every step necessary to assure legalization and decriminalization become law,” Coughlin said.
“Significant progress has been made and we are hopeful that concerns raised will be able to be addressed. I remain optimistic an agreement will be reached and that fair and responsible legislation will be advanced which will facilitate A-21 and A-1897 becoming law,” he added.
Murphy was expected to sign the legislation, which could have led to a marijuana marketplace in about six months for people 21 and older. But he has so far declined to sign the bill, even though he had signaled his support for it.
Lawmakers pulled bill last month that would have addressed the Murphy administration’s objections to legal issues in the legislation, A-21.
Voters already approved a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana, which went into effect on Jan. 1. The legislation is now needed to officially create the framework for legalizing the personal use of the drug, decriminalize the substance and remove it from the Schedule I drug list.
Until the legislation is passed, it’s still not technically legal to use the drug in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Marijuana Enters Weird, Legal Limbo – Is It OK To Smoke Yet?
Talks collapsed last month over Murphy’s efforts to make sure there were penalties for underaged, under-21 users.
The Murphy administration and state legislative leaders came up with a compromise that addressed those penalties, but lawmakers ultimately abandoned it last month.
Lawmakers pulled their support because a new “cleanup bill” would impose penalties that were considered too harsh on minors charged with possession of the drug.
Democratic Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, told Politico that removing the penalties for underage offenders was the Legislature’s original intent. Sen. Ron Rice, D-Essex, told Politico that the cleanup bill’s provisions would merely lead to another form of “stop-and-frisk.”
Murphy, addressing the matter during a news conference last month, said he’s “still optimistic we’re going to figure something out” on legalizing marijuana but he also said “we’ve got to somehow thread the needle” to address everybody’s concerns.
Murphy said the last thing he wants is “more kids getting tangled up in the…
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