Legalized Marijuana NJ: Voters recently approved a constitutional amendment that legalizes cannabis in New Jersey, which is expected to generate $126 million a year. After many years of legislative failures, voters in New Jersey authorized the legal use of recreational marijuana on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
It passed by a wide margin, and allows New Jersey officials to start the long process of establishing rules pertaining to the regulation and testing of cannabis, as well as the issuance of licenses.
The vote puts pressure on neighboring states such as New York and Pennsylvania, calling on lawmakers who support legalization to either take action or lose the competitive edge to New Jersey – a state that is expected to become one of the largest marijuana markets in the nation.
Additionally, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota approved a ballot measure that legalizes recreational marijuana. If that question passes, a third of the country will live in an area where it’s legal to smoke pot without needing medical justification. This comes eight years after Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize marijuana.
The question approved by NJ voters calls for a 6.6 percent state tax on sales of marijuana sales to anyone over 21. It also allows cities and towns in the state to charge an extra two percent tax.
This doesn’t mean things will be moving along expeditiously. For example, in Massachusetts, it took two years after voters approved non-medical use of marijuana to see the first the legal dispensaries set up shop.
A motivating factor in New Jersey is the potential for new jobs and extra tax revenue in a state still struggling with pandemic-fueled financial losses.
There were many failed attempts prior to putting the decision to a vote by NJ residents.
Supporters of the measure in New Jersey cite high arrest rates as a big reason to change the existing drug laws. Proponents of the amendment say it would be a powerful step forward in the fight against the drug war. Opponents say marijuana is a gateway drug and should not be legalized.
Read more about the fight in our cannabis election FAQs here.
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