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Lawmakers have struck a deal that would start the legal cannabis industry in New Jersey and pave the way for the bill to pass later this month.
“There’s a deal,” Sen. Nicholas Scooter, D-Union, sponsor of the Marijuana Legalization Bill (S21), said Friday evening. “It’s been a long way and I’ll be happy when I’m done.”
The settlement law places a limit on licensing: the state can only issue lic 37 licenses to marijuana growers during the first two years of legal sales. The limit does not apply to microlenses, which can be given to businesses with 10 or fewer employees.
It also dedicates tax 0% of sales tax revenue, as well as all funds raised through taxes on farmers, legal aid, health care, guidance and support for rehabilitation programs in disproportionately affected minority communities through drug war.
The first part is the victory of the Legislature and the second is the victory of the Senate. Differences over both licensing and direct funding for social justice cause delays in the process.
“When the original bill was introduced in the Senate many years ago, there was no mention of a return to social justice, social equality and affected communities and individuals who were affected by the anti-drug war,” said Assemblyman Jemmel Holly, DA. -Union, one of the sponsors of the bill in the Legislature. “While negotiations, debates and dialogues have taken a very long time, I am very proud of the work of the Black Caucus and members of the Assembly and our speaker in bringing this issue to the forefront of social justice. All New Jerseys should be proud. “
Govt. Phil Murphy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Cufflin issued a joint statement Friday evening with Scooter and Assemblywoman Annette Quizano, D-Union, the second sponsor of the Assembly version.
“Today we are proud to announce that we have reached an agreement on legislation providing a framework for legalization, an important step in reducing racial inequality and social inequality that has long plagued our criminal justice system,” the statement said. Is. “
“This law will deliver re-establishment justice and ensure that communities most affected by the war on drugs see the economic benefits of the cannabis market for adult consumption. While there is still much work to be done, we are one step closer to creating a new, promising industry for our state. “
New Jersey voters approved the question of voting to amend the state constitution and legalize marijuana in November. But legislators must still pass a bill to establish rules and regulations for the new marijuana industry to make people’s wishes come true.
Scooter has stressed the need to act quickly and do something before January 1 when the constitutional amendment comes into force. And others have pushed lawmakers to pass a bill that would declare possession of marijuana and end arrests.
Legislators arrived earlier this week to pass a bill to make another deal on the issue that would allow people to own six ounces of marijuana. A provision was added by the Senate in November, which would also reduce penalties for containing psilocybin, commonly referred to as “magic” mushrooms. The legislature did not vote on it.
Instead, they introduced a separate bill to reduce criminal penalties for silosibin offenses, which will go before the Legislative Justice Committee for the first hearing on Monday morning. Legislators expect to move forward with a bill to ban marijuana this month.
Senators also introduced a new constitutional amendment this week that could go to voters in 2021. It seeks to strengthen the tax structure outlined in S21, ensuring that money goes only for reasons of social and ethnic justice, not to the general funds of the state.
The legislators came up with the tax plan and amended the bill after advocates turned to minority communities to testify against the original version without directing any money. They vowed to end the license limit, arguing that an industry open to more tors operators would allow more minorities and women to enter the industry. Larger industries can lead to more marijuana production and lower prices.
But the state’s existing medical marijuana companies, which competed fiercely for a limited number of licenses and stood firm to gain a foothold in the early market, strongly supported the temporary limit on new licenses.
The legislation bill will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 14 and for a full vote on Dec. 17, Scooter said.
The report was contributed by NJ Advance Media reporter Susan K. Livio.
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Amanda Hoover can be reached [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter amandahoovernj.
