Recreational marijuana for New Jersey? Lawmakers to check out Colorado's budding law

[jct74]

Recreational marijuana for N.J.? Lawmakers to check out Colorado's budding law

By Susan K. Livio
October 13, 2016

TRENTON — Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald are among the nine lawmakers who are traveling to Colorado this weekend to witness the impact that legal marijuana has had on the Rocky Mountain state.

Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) is leading a delegation to meet with legislators, members of Gov. John Hickenlooper's administration, health officials, farm and dispensary owners, and the people who drafted the constitutional amendment voters passed in 2013. The trip to Denver begins Saturday and ends Wednesday,

"We want to learn from their experiences and improve upon it as much as we can," said Scutari, who is the prime sponsor of a marijuana legalization bill that he plans to amend after his trip. He expects a vote in 2017.

Scutari, who traveled to Colorado alone earlier this year to learn more about the marijuana industry, has made no secret about his interest in the revenue legalization could generate. Marijuana sales in Colorado topped $1 billion in 2015. The state collected $135 million in taxes and fees, with $35 million earmarked for school construction projects.

...

read more:
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/10/top_nj_leaders_are_making_pot_reconnaissance_trip. html

[Valli6]

Hmm. When NJ Gov. Christie was running in the primary, he promised that if he became president, marijuana would once again, be illegal in every state. Even joked to states like Colorodo, "Enjoy it while you can!"

[specsaregood]

Hmm. When NJ Gov. Christie was running in the primary, he promised that if he became president, marijuana would once again, be illegal in every state. Even joked to states like Colorodo, "Enjoy it while you can!"

Doesn't matter, he wont be governor for much longer as he is term limited.

[jct74]

yeah, Christie will leave office in January 2018. Meanwhile, the likely Democratic nominee for governor is Phil Murphy, who went on record last week supporting marijuana legalization.



Phil Murphy, the Democrats' likely nominee for governor next year, said Thursday night that he supports the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey.

"I support legalization," Murphy said in response to a question at a town hall event in Rutherford.

Murphy's position puts him at odds with Governor Christie, who says marijuana is a "gateway drug" and a danger to society. Murphy said that after studying the issue, he concluded that legalization was the best option. But the decision was tough, he said, since he is the father of four teenagers.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/murphy-says-he-supports-marijuana-legalization-in-new-jersey-1.1673213

[jct74]

Marijuana legislation inches ahead despite Christie warning

By MICHAEL CATALINI
January 15, 2017

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s warning to the Democrat-led Legislature not to move forward with legalizing marijuana is going mostly unheeded.

Christie, a longtime opponent of legalizing the recreational use of the drug, cautioned lawmakers in an impassioned State of the State address aimed at battling the opioid epidemic.

But as the governor charges full-steam ahead with a program to battle drug addiction that got a warm reception from Democratic leaders, he’s getting pushback when it comes to marijuana.

“He couldn’t have been more off the mark with that portion of his speech,” said Democratic state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, a top proponent of legalization.

The issue comes to the fore has some are hoping New Jersey will soon join the four states - California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada - that approved marijuana legalization this year, while four others - Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota - voted to establish medical marijuana programs.

New Jersey already has a tightly regulated medical marijuana program that includes six alternative treatment centers, or dispensaries, but the issue has largely stalled because of Christie’s opposition.

Christie won’t sign the legislation, Scutari concedes, but Democrats say they want to lay the groundwork for the new administration, which voters will pick in November.

That groundwork includes introducing legislation in February, followed by hearings as well as a fact-finding mission that Scutari led late last year to Colorado for an up-close look at how regulations and other details are working.

...

read more:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/15/marijuana-legislation-inches-ahead-despite-christi/