Recreational New Jersey Marijuana Legalization in 2020 – It hasn’t always been an easy road for the legalization of marijuana. Buyweed-NJ has been keeping you updated on this fluid situation as it changes, seemingly daily. Here’s a bit of back story.
2017 Legislation: Unsuccessful
Scutari, an advocate for legalizing recreational marijuana, introduced a bill in May of 2017 to legalize marijuana, whereby adults 21 and older could legally possess and consume marijuana. This proposal was strongly opposed by then-governor Christie.
The proposal’s contents included:
- New Jersey adults 21 or older could legally possess cannabis up to one ounce, and could possess edible cannabis products up to 16 ounces, cannabis-infused drinks and oils up to 72 ounces, and concentrates up to seven ounces.
- Sales tax on cannabis products. The taxes for the first and second years would be seven and 10 percent respectively, with the tax progressively increasing by five percent each year until reaching 25 percent after four years.
- The proposal would not allow for the cultivation of cannabis for personal use.
Even after the conclusion of Christie’s term, Scutari’s proposal was not approved. That being said, New Jersey received more than 15 more legalization proposals in the assembly. Current Governor Murphy supports legalization, and has been extremely active in displaying his support. He has even gone so far as to suggest decriminalizing marijuana as a temporary measure.
NJ Medical Marijuana Legalization in 2020
Scutari went on to introduce yet another bill called the New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Act in June of 2018. This proposal asked that the state legalize, regulate, and tax recreational marijuana. President of the New Jersey Senate Stephen M. Sweeney co-sponsored the proposal. The bill proposed that:
- Possession of up to one ounce of recreational marijuana would become legal.
- The state would place a 12 percent sales tax on marijuana products, with municipalities placing an additional two percent tax.
Legislative gridlock halted the bill, however. On top of all that, Murphy and Sweeney did not agree on the proposal’s details. Democratic Senator Ronald Rice, along with a majority of Republicans, also opposed marijuana legalization. Advocates of marijuana legalization needed support from Senate Democrats and Republicans in order for it to pass; however, Murphy and Sweeney were not able to garner enough support from senators to legalize it.
2020 Recreational Marijuana Legalization on the Ballot
State leaders have now decided to place a marijuana legalization poll on the 2020 ballot, referred to as the New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Amendment. It will be included on the ballot on November 3, 2020.
If the referendum gets the necessary support on the ballot and goes on to pass, the possession and consumption of marijuana will become legal in New Jersey for adults 21 and older. Once passed, the proposal will make its way back to lawmakers who will then decide which laws will govern the state’s recreational marijuana industry. Other states to add proposals for recreational marijuana on the 2020 ballot include Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota.
In a recent Monmouth University poll, 62 percent of New Jersey adults said they would support legalizing the possession of marijuana in small quantities, with 32 percent opposing such legalization. The highest support from the state’s residents for legalizing marijuana came in the last few years. If most voters support the measure, it is very possible that recreational marijuana legalization in 2020 could become a reality later this year in New Jersey.
Buyweed-NJ will keep you posted as always on updates in regards to NJ Medical Marijuana Legalization in 2020.