Legislature Approves Public Referendum to Legalize Adult Use Marijuana

Trenton – The Senate and Assembly today voted to seek voter approval to legalize adult-use marijuana in New Jersey. The Senate resolution, SCR-183, sponsored by Senator Nicholas Scutari and Senate President Steve Sweeney, was endorsed by the Senate with a vote of 24 – 16. The Assembly vote on a companion measure was 49-24-1.  The legislative approvals will put the referendum on the 2020 ballot.

“I believe the public recognizes that ‘marijuana prohibition’ has failed and they will support legalization for adults,” said Senator Scutari (D-Union), who also authored the law creating New Jersey’s medical marijuana program. “We can do away with the laws that fall the hardest on minorities and create a regulatory system that ensures the safe use of cannabis products by adults.”

“Legalization is a significant step in public policy that will have a real-life impact on social justice, law enforcement and the lives of people in communities throughout New Jersey,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “With the public’s approval, we will be able to move forward to correct social and legal injustices that have had a discriminatory impact on communities of color at the same time marijuana is regulated and made safe and legal for adults.”

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission, created to oversee the medical cannabis program, would also oversee the new adult use market, according to the resolution. It would limit the tax to the state sales tax, with an optional additional surcharge of up to two percent by host municipalities.