Just as it seemed Gov. Phil Murphy’s office and the state Legislature had come to an agreement that would end a years-long struggle to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, opposition from lawmakers has derailed the effort in another bizarre twist in the saga, NJ Advance Media has learned.
State Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who sponsored a “cleanup” bill (S3320) to address Murphy’s call to add penalties for underage use of marijuana, said Friday afternoon that measure will not go up for a vote in the full Senate on Monday after other senators objected to it.
The governor has declined to sign bills passed last month to legalize and decriminalize weed without changes that enact penalties for those under 21 caught with marijuana. He called the issue “technical but important.”
The legalization and decriminalization bill had discrepancies; one sought to do away with penalties for all ages possessing up to six ounces of marijuana, and the other made underage possession a disorderly persons offense.
The cleanup bill sought to create uniform, mild penalties. That walked back a previous attempt by lawmakers to end punishments for marijuana possession.
But it fell apart on Friday afternoon, even though Scutari had presided over a Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday that advanced the bill by a vote of 7-3, and just hours after the governor’s office said Murphy approves of the bill and would sign it into law if it passed the Legislature Monday.
Scutari said Friday he was removing his name as a sponsor of the cleanup bill, marking a full 180 on the measure after members of the Senate expressed fierce opposition. Nearly two weeks of work and negotiations between the administration and lawmakers collapsed in one afternoon.
“We’re satisfied with the bill that we gave them, and we want them to take action on that bill,” he said, referring to the original bill to legalize that the Legislature passed in mid-December.
He said Murphy will have to veto or sign the bill as is, and that the Senate is done with the issue until then.
“It’s a change in policy,” Scutari said. ”They thought it was technical, but it’s not.”
He said he agrees with other lawmakers that the change could lead to more arrests of Black youth.
“In the 11th hour, the governor has proposed legislation that will disproportionally and unfairly hurt communities of color,” state Assemblyman Jamel Holley, D-Union, who sponsored legalization bill, said in a statement. “The governor can’t hold legislation hostage in an effort to further target over-policed communities and place a de facto tax on poor people whose children may suffer from drug abuse and addiction. This proposal is regressive, draconian and ethically perverse.”
The Assembly also pulled the vote on the cleanup bill from its Monday session on Friday evening.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office declined to say if Murphy will sign or veto the legalization bill on his desk.
Credit: Nj.com
Big surprise
They are just waiting for next years election to buy votes again.
Harold Draken
So if its passed by voters & to start by January 1st, 2021 as passed by voters Cannabis is legal, the gray area we are in is sales & distribution. Thanks NJ!!! You’re absolutely beasting the legalization effort you said was going to be a landmark for other states. Welp, you’re right there, no other state is going to do what NJ is doing now.
Michael Howlett of the public voted for it. It is legal. F the idiots who still believe “reefer madness” is legit
What else is new with that gas bag?
Michael Ann Pease nothing, we still dont have bags of gas lol
They’re dragging it out so that Murphy can make it an election issue this year. Well, as the expression goes: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. “. This should be a lesson to anyone dumb enough to be a single issue voter. You can’t let one thing that you feel strongly about allow you to overlook myriad flaws, and if you’ll pardon my French, an evil fucking scumbag like Phil Murphy.
Idgaf I’m still smoking fuck y’all
Ish Torres hit me if you need????
NO MASKS UNTIL WE GET WEED!!!!!
Bryan Boutillette you’ll still wear it. Stop
This is the most New Jersey thing ever I really hate this state
I dont understand…..Wasn’t this voted on and passed??.. What deal needs to be worked out??..If its the will of the people then so be it……UNLESS… The politicians think they know whats better for us…..Unreal…. https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2020/12/nj-lawmakers-just-passed-a-sweeping-legal-weed-bill-heres-what-you-need-to-know.html
Bacon We the people have no say even though we vote Government over powers!
60 dollars an ounce? I do not see the black market going anywhere as they will lead in sales shutting down these dispensaries just like a Macy’s department store before you know it ????
I am going to smoke it anyway. Don’t vote Murphy in you don’t have to we made it legal.
NJ politicraps couldn’t fix a sandwich
Why don’t we start by decriminalizing possesion.
The way they tax you in this state, I’ll be buying it on the street anyway
If the only reason you voted for Murphy is to legalize weed, somethings wrong with that. Murphy has been a problem and needs to go, some people may need a clear head to see that. . .
It does not matter what law NJ passes. Possession is still a Federal crime. Even though NJ can’t prosecute you, the Feds can.
Robert Pilovsky Federal crime? You must be joking…
Bette DeMarco I’m not joking. A Federal Bill has been passed in the House to decriminalize it, but it has not been enacted yet. Don’t believe me ? Google it !
NJ can still prosecute you, too.
Robert Pilovsky not if the state refuses to host the venue as in the courthouse or of NJ refuses to help. What can a federal judge do at that point
Scott A Barnes Agreed. No federal judge would hear the case on that matter. I was just pointing out that on the federal level it is still a criminal offense but charges would not likely go anywhere.
Once again the state proves it can’t get out of its own way.
????
Sure is odd how it was announced they would get it passed right before the election huh. Or maybe it was bait to pull in votes? I’d bet it did get them votes. Some people are so easily fooled and or so willing to have corrupt politicians for a friggin bag of weed. How sad…
Is anyone surprised?
damn it murphy just get it out there, I got my strobe light and pink floyd album already to go
And ya keep voting for him just because of this while taxes keep going up smh
But the people voted it in. All the lawmakers had to do was make it so. So the vote (well that part) was all for nothing?
While i agree weed should be legalized, it would also basically disarm us. Maybe it’s just the not the right time…
Legislators can’t hode de schmoke!