New Jersey will soon launch a legal cannabis sale as accepted by its residents in November. This comes after the state Assembly and Senate approved the bill on Thursday to create a structure for the upcoming market. The policy change is on its way to Governor Phil Murphy’s house for his approval.
Both chambers also passed separate reforms to legalize possession of 6 ounces of cannabis and minimize legal charges for psilocybin possession. The two regulations were initially part of a single reform, however, legislators broke off the psilocybin component into an independent regulation after some were dissatisfied with merging them.
The Assembly- and Senate-approved cannabis sales legislation received the highest number of votes in all the bills. It also led to a controversy. It experienced multiple delays over issues regarding social equity, workers drug testing and licensing rules.
The psilocybin reform got a 22-15 vote in the Senate with 3 abstentions and garnered a 51-22 vote in the Assembly with 6 abstentions.
The cannabis decriminalization bill got a 64-12 Assembly vote, with 3 abstentions and the Senate passed it after a 31-2 vote.
The final marijuana authorization legislation is due to an interference announced during early December by high-ranking legislators and the governor. It entails a plethora of amendments crafted in commissions last week.
Sponsors explained their hurry by pointing out that it’s necessary to approve the bill prior to the voter-passed marijuana legalization in the federal Constitution.
After the consensus was achieved, the parliamentary leaders and the governor gave a joint statement asserting that the updated regulation will achieve their shared objectives of providing restorative justice. It will also make sure that the people most affected by the fight on drugs reap economic perks of the adult-use marijuana market.
