Legal weed for N.J.? It's too close to call right now.

[DirtEdonE]

Source: Advance Media/NJ.com

We may not know until Monday.

In fact, New Jersey leaders may not know whether there’s enough support in the state Legislature to legalize recreational marijuana in the Garden State until just hours before the planned vote.

With only four days left before lawmakers are scheduled to decide the fate of the controversial, long-delayed proposal, state leaders are still a handful of votes short of the number they need for it to pass, six sources with direct knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media on Thursday.

Both the state Senate and Assembly — each of which are controlled by Democrats — need to approve the bill for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, a major proponent of legal weed, can sign it into law.

Read more: https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/03/legal-weed-for-nj-its-too-close-to-call-right-now.html

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I posted about this last week or so. I was more optimistic then but it looks like Democratic control of both branches of the legislature and the governor's office still might not be enough to get us across the line. I certainly hope New Jersey Democrats come to their senses.

This type of division in our own party, even a state party, does not bode well, IMO, for 2020. We need to start looking at the big picture. Petty BS needs to be put aside. People are criticizing Governor Murphy for refusing to be a transactional politician but what ever happened to just doing what is right?

Oh, BTW, they included and therefore tied up medical marijuana reform in this bill. And after what chris christie did to the medical program reform is really needed.

[Socal31]

1. Jesus this should be a lay-up, no?

I'm a west-coaster so maybe the NJ culture is just that much different?

[DirtEdonE]

2. Yes, this should be easy

New Jersey culture has changed over the years. We were a solid liberal state but now I'm no longer as confident in our electoral sensibilities.

It seems everyone here is smoking pot and those who aren't are ODing on opioids but you know - THE CHILDREN! - who are able to get all the illegal weed they need easier than they can get legal beer. The brainwashing is impressive.

On a positive note; if this doesn't pass it just might be the impetus I need to get the hell out of here.

[smooth64]

7. Unfortunately there are democrats in the assembly who's against the legalization

In NJ for what reason I don't know but you know the old saying follow the money

[yaesu]

3. States the have legalized without any supply capabilities , any means to regulate

are kind of just flopping around on the ground, especially if its a red state majority. Passing is one thing, getting it setup could take years in the anal red states.

[DirtEdonE]

4. They're predicting it will take a year to set up legal sales

Here in formerly blue Jersey.

I'm editing to include the story below as an illustration of the mindset in this wacky supposedly liberal state these days.

With N.J. legal weed vote around the corner, 60 towns have already banned pot. See the list.

https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2019/03/with-nj-legal-weed-vote-around-the-corner-60-towns-have-already-banned-pot-see-the-list.html

[DownriverDem]

5. Here in Michigan

we have legal medical weed and recreational weed. Recreational weed was voted in with the 2018 Midterms. Here's the catch though. We can have weed, use it, grow it, but there's no where to legally buy it yet. That won't happen until 2020. I still find it strange.

[Maxheader]

9. They may change their minds when they see the tax revenues

flowing out into the propot communities...Which stimulates existing businesses
and creates new businesses...

[rollin74]

6. Jeez. Here in Nevada, it was less than 8 months from election day ballot measure approval

until legal recreational dispensary sales began

and that was when we had a republican governor

[brooklynite]

8. New York will apparently no pass marijuana legalization as part of the April budget...

...might come up before the session ends in June.