New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[1] The state governor Phil Murphy indicated support for legalization in his 2017 campaign.[2]

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.[3]

State senator Nicholas Scutari was a primary sponsor of the bill.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][7] The New York Times reported in February, 2019 that the settling of the tax rate question "could place the state [of New Jersey] on a path to legalizing recreational marijuana this year".[8] On March 18, both chambers advanced the bill for a floor vote.[9]

The prospects of this bill in New Jersey are said to be "a litmus test" for New York state.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

Polling[edit]

On S.2703
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		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[A] 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%[b] 11%
DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler[A] September 8–16, 2020 501 (LV) ± 4.4% 65% 29% – 6%
DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler[1][A] August 5–13, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.383% 66% 27% – 7%
Pollfish/DKC Analytics/Brach Eichler[A] 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[a] 		Margin
of error 		Yes No Undecided
Monmouth University February 8–10, 2019 604 (A) ± 4% 62%[c] 32% 5%

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Refused" with 0%
  3. ^ Listed as "Supporting the legalisation of possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use
Partisan clients
  1. ^ a b c d Brach Eichler is a law firm that already supported S.2703 prior to conducting this poll

References[edit]

  1. ^ Legal weed is now one step closer to reality in N.J., NJ.com, November 26, 2018
  2. ^ Marans, Daniel (June 4, 2017). "New Jersey Democrat Faces Criticism For Goldman Sachs Investment In Abusive Company" – via Huff Post.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Committees Clear Marijuana Legalization", School Board Notes, vol. XLII, no. 17, New Jersey School Boards Association, November 27, 2018
  5. ^ Andrew KITCHENMAN (October 14, 2014), EXPLAINER: HOW NEW JERSEY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW WORKS, NJ Spotlight
  6. ^ Jay Lassiter (February 21, 2019), Legalization Coming 'Within Weeks', New Jersey Advocates Say, Leafly
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ Nick Corasaniti (February 19, 2019), "Marijuana Tax in New Jersey? It Could be $42 an Ounce", The New York Times
  9. ^ Wise, Justin (2019-03-18). "New Jersey legislature advances bill to legalize recreational marijuana". The Hill. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  10. ^ Benjamin Tievsky (December 14, 2018), "Cannabis Legalization in New Jersey: Insuring the Garden State's Plants", JD Supra
  11. ^ New Jersey Poised to Enact First Recreational Marijuana Law Protecting Workers from Adverse Employment Action, Littler Publications, JD Supra, March 22, 2019
  12. ^ Jan Hefler (May 15, 2019). "New Jersey's legal weed bill is dead. Lawmakers will put the question on the ballot". Philadelphia Inquirer.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]


Stub icon

This Cannabis-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This New Jersey–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Jersey_Cannabis_Regulatory_and_Expungement_Aid_Modernization_Act&oldid=1175289367"