NJ Marijuana Legalization Delayed, Again, As More Towns Ban It

The long road toward marijuana legalization in New Jersey continues to lengthen – just as a growing list of towns have passed laws to keep pot out of their towns once it's available in stores.

An aide to the state’s top lawmakers confirmed to Patch that legalization won't happen this year – even though state Senate and Assembly committees voted last month to advance the legislation to a full vote by the state Legislature.

In the meantime, some towns in New Jersey have taken action since the committee votes to ban sales, manufacturing and farming, among other uses. Patch has the list of more than 50 communities below.

Richard McGrath, a spokesman for the state Senate and State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, confirmed to Patch that no votes are scheduled on marijuana legalization this month, and it's not clear when the issue will be addressed again.

Sweeney told nj.com that he and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, were holding out hopes of reaching a compromise during a meeting Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday. But they didn't reach a deal.

“We really had our first significant conversation today on it," Sweeney told nj.com. “I wouldn’t classify anything today as negative. We had a pretty healthy conversation.”

Last month, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee vote was 7-4 in favor, while the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 7-3 to advance the bill. The move was significant because New Jersey had planned a full Legislature vote by Oct. 29, but continued disagreement over the legislation delayed it.

The "Marijuana Legalization Act" would allow users 21 years old and up to possess up to an ounce of pot.

Sweeney's office has acknowledged that the senate president doesn't have an agreement with the Murphy administration on how the legislation should proceed.

Conflicts over how much marijuana should be taxed – among other issues – have impeded the legislation's progress. Sweeney has said that the tax should be no more than 12 percent.
Murphy's deputy press secretary, Alyana Alfaro, released a statement last month, saying: “Governor Murphy remains committed to legalizing adult-use marijuana, a critical step in eliminating racial disparities in our criminal justice system.

"The governor is committed to working with the Legislature to legalize adult-use marijuana the right way, one that makes the state fairer, prioritizes the safety of New Jersey residents, and ensures that some of the economic benefits go the communities hardest hit by the war on drugs.”
Murphy, meanwhile, was recently asked about marijuana legalization during a recent Facebook live interview, and he told the audience that he's looking at signing something "sooner than later."

"We've had good exchanges with both the legislative leadership sponsors and, most importantly, the teams in the trenches crafting this," Murphy said. "I think it's sooner than later."

Murphy said there will be several pieces to the legislation, including expansion of the medical marijuana program. The "biggest mountain to climb," he said, will be legalizing the drug for recreational use.

Just don't expect pot to be sold in stores right away. The regulatory and licensing process could take another six months after the legislation is passed, health officials say. That schedule could move a lot more quickly if medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed to meet the demand.

Here is a list of more than 50 towns that have moved to ban marijuana sales, manufacturing, farming and other uses within their borders, compiled from articles published in Patch, 94.3 The Point, NJ101.5, The Record and The Star-Ledger as well as ordinances posted on community websites:

• Barnegat
  
• Berkeley Township
• Brick Township
• Bridgeton
• Bridgewater
• Brigantine
• Carlstadt
• Chatham Township
• Chester Township
• Clifton
• Colts Neck
• Cranbury
• East Rutherford
• Elmwood Park
• Emerson
• Fair Haven
• Franklin Lakes
• Freehold Township
• Garfield
• Hasbrouck Heights
• Hawthorne
• Hazlet
• Highlands
• Jamesburg
• Lavallette
• Lodi
• Mahwah
• Manville
• Middletown
• Midland Park
• North Caldwell
• North Haledon
• Oakland
• Oceanport
• Old Bridge
• Old Tappan
• Palisades Park
• Parsippany-Troy Hills
• Pleasantville
• Point Pleasant Beach
• Ramsey
• Ridgewood
• Ringwood
• Rumson
• Saddle Brook
• Seaside Heights
• Sea Girt
• Secaucus
• Shrewsbury
• Spotswood
• Surf City
• Union City
• Upper Freehold
• Upper Saddle River
• Wall
• Wayne
• Weehawken
• West Caldwell
• West Long Branch
• Westwood
• Woodcliff Lake
• Wyckoff

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