New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act (S.2703) is proposed legislation to legalize, tax and regulate adult-use cannabis in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and to expunge certain drug-related offenses. A state Senate–Assembly joint committee passed the bill in November 2018 for a vote by both houses. The state governor Phil Murphy indicated support for legalization in his 2017 campaign.
Earlier proposed legislation provided for expungement of cannabis offenses in separate bills from actual legalization. Expungement in the 2018 proposal was "central to gaining support" in the legislature.
State senator Nicholas Scutari was a primary sponsor of the bill. He also was a primary sponsor of New Jersey S. 119, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which he introduced in January 2005, five years before it was enacted. After "stalling" the bill was revived when legislators and the governor agreed to set a tax rate of $42.00 an ounce vice a percentage of the sale price. The New York Times reported in February, 2019 that the settling of the tax rate question "could place the state on a path to legalizing recreational marijuana this year". On March 18, both chambers advanced the bill for a floor vote.
The prospects of this bill in New Jersey are said to be "a litmus test" for New York state.
Legislators and the governor have said if the bill does not pass in March, 2019 they will continue to try to get it passed in the new session beginning in November.
On May 15 it was announced by the Senate president that the bill could not clear the legislature, and would instead become a 2020 voter referendum.
Polling
On S.2703
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
For S.2703 | Against S.2703 | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 19–24, 2020 | 861 (LV) | ± 4% | 61% | 34% | – | 5% |
| Stockton College | October 7–13, 2020 | 721 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 66% | 23% | – | 10% |
| DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler | October 5–13, 2020 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 65% | 29% | – | 6% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 30 – October 5, 2020 | 582 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 59% | 30% | 0% | 11% |
| DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler | September 8–16, 2020 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 65% | 29% | – | 6% |
| DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler | August 5–13, 2020 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.383% | 66% | 27% | – | 7% |
| Pollfish/DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler | July 7–12, 2020 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.383% | 68% | 27% | – | 6% |
| Monmouth University | April 16–19, 2020 | 635 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 61% | 34% | – | 5% |
On whether recreational marijuana should be legal
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Yes | No | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouth University | February 8–10, 2019 | 604 (A) | ± 4% | 62% | 32% | 5% |
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - "Refused" with 0%
- Listed as "Supporting the legalisation of possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use
Partisan clients
References
- Legal weed is now one step closer to reality in N.J., NJ.com, November 26, 2018
- Marans, Daniel (June 4, 2017). "New Jersey Democrat Faces Criticism For Goldman Sachs Investment In Abusive Company" – via Huff Post.
- Nick Corasaniti (November 28, 2018), "How a Push to Legalize Pot in N.J. Became a Debate on Race and Fairness", The New York Times,
Activists rallied in support of legalized pot in New Jersey in 2014. This year, creating an efficient process for tossing out past convictions has become central to gaining support from some lawmakers.
- "Committees Clear Marijuana Legalization", School Board Notes, vol. XLII, no. 17, New Jersey School Boards Association, November 27, 2018
- Andrew KITCHENMAN (October 14, 2014), EXPLAINER: HOW NEW JERSEY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW WORKS, NJ Spotlight
- Jay Lassiter (February 21, 2019), Legalization Coming 'Within Weeks', New Jersey Advocates Say, Leafly
- Tom Davis (February 16, 2019), Get Ready For Legal Marijuana In NJ: Reports Say There's A Deal: The governor and legislative leaders have reportedly reached an agreement on a framework for a deal., Patch.com
- Nick Corasaniti (February 19, 2019), "Marijuana Tax in New Jersey? It Could be $42 an Ounce", The New York Times
- Wise, Justin (2019-03-18). "New Jersey legislature advances bill to legalize recreational marijuana". The Hill. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- Benjamin Tievsky (December 14, 2018), "Cannabis Legalization in New Jersey: Insuring the Garden State's Plants", JD Supra
- New Jersey Poised to Enact First Recreational Marijuana Law Protecting Workers from Adverse Employment Action, Littler Publications, JD Supra, March 22, 2019
- Jan Hefler (May 15, 2019). "New Jersey's legal weed bill is dead. Lawmakers will put the question on the ballot". Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Rutgers-Eagleton
- Stockton College
- DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler
- DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler
- Pollfish/DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler
- Monmouth University
- Monmouth University
Further reading
- "Legal weed is one step closer in New Jersey. Here's what's next", Chicago Sun-Times, November 30, 2018
- Douglas A. Berman (Moritz College of Law) (September 27, 2018), "Notable groups set forth notable set of principles for marijuana reform as New Jersey debates legalization", Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform (blog)
- Sam Sutton (February 21, 2019), "Sweeney: Don't expect legal cannabis in New Jersey until at least January", Politico
- Parmley, Suzette (March 19, 2019). "Marijuana Legalization on Track for Monday Vote". New Jersey Law Journal. Law.com.
External links
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