MJ moment
About a month after New Jersey voters approved a marijuana legalization referendum, a key Senate committee on Monday advanced a newly revised bill to implement regulations for the program, with a floor vote expected on Thursday. The panel also approved another piece of legislation to reduce penalties for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That was originally included in a separate marijuana decriminalization bill, but it was removed amid controversy and instead made into its own standalone legislation. Lawmakers quickly got to work crafting legislation that would set rules for the marijuana market following the ballot measure’s passage, and differing versions cleared appropriations panels in the Assembly and Senate last month. Leaders from both branches have since negotiated with one another and with Gov. Phil Murphy (D) to arrive at a unified approach. Now the Senate Judiciary Committee has passed the resulting cannabis sales bill in a 6-5 vote. Advocates have encouraged the legislature to swiftly enact cannabis sales regulations, but they’ve pushed back on the initial proposal that was introduced, arguing that it did not go far enough to address social equity and restorative justice for communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. The new version seeks to address those concerns, but some activists say it is still inadequate. It's all hands on deck, folks. State lawmakers are expected to vote on S21/A21, the bill legalizing cannabis, on Thursday, 12/17. Tell the NJ Legislature: we must make sure the final bill prioritizes + reinvests in communities hit hardest by prohibition.https://t.co/HZYkQVZfep — ACLU of New Jersey (@ACLUNJ) December 11, 2020 The new bill includes Senate-supported provisions to allocate 70 percent of marijuana tax revenue to community reinvestment programs such as legal aid, workforce training and mentoring. The Assembly secured a win as well, with negotiators agreeing to include the chamber’s proposal…
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Source : New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Revised Marijuana Sales Bill, With Floor Votes Expected This Week
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