NJ Lawmakers Weighing Legislation Legalizing Marijuana
Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook | Twitter
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers have begun considering legislation to legalize recreational cannabis.A joint Democrat-led Assembly and Senate committee on Monday began discussing the package of measures before a standing-room-only crowd.
ACLU is for legalizing recreational marijuana in N.J. citing disproportionate marijuana possession arrest rate for people of color pic.twitter.com/QQHdTZrp90
— Cleve Bryan (@CleveBryan) November 26, 2018
The legislation legalizes an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and over, sets up a five-person cannabis commission and taxes cannabis at 12 percent.
That includes the 6.625 percent sales tax. The draft also allows towns and cities to apply for up to a 2 percent tax on cannabis.
Lawmakers dropped an earlier proposal to phase in a higher rate over five years from 7 percent to 25 percent.
The legislation also calls for expediting expungements for people with marijuana-related criminal backgrounds.
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy supports legalization. His office didn't respond when the new legislation was unveiled Wednesday.
Packed hearing room as N.J. lawmakers consider bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults pic.twitter.com/jZGRDmzZEC
— Cleve Bryan (@CleveBryan) November 26, 2018