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U.S. NEWS Monday 25 March 2019
New Jersey lawmakers near vote

on recreational cannabis

By MIKE CATALINI expungement of pending
Associated Press charges and prior marijua-
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Law- na-related convictions. Un-
makers are poised to vote der the proposal, New Jer-
on making New Jersey the sey would allow for the ex-
11th state to legalize recre- pungement of marijuana
ational marijuana. crimes for possession up to
The Democrat-led As- 5 pounds. Lawmakers ac-
sembly and Senate have knowledge it sounds like a
scheduled votes for Mon- lot but say it’s necessary in
day. The vote, whose out- order to allow for an expe-
come remains unclear, dited expungement pro-
comes after more than a cess, since the statute cov-
year of mostly back-room ering possession for small
wrangling since Democrat- amounts of cannabis goes
ic Gov. Phil Murphy came up to 5 pounds. In this Friday, March 22, 2019 photo, marijuana buds are locked
into office. Murphy cam- The measure also aims to on display at Compassionate Care Foundation’s medical
paigned on legalization, in incentivize women and mi- marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
contrast with his predeces- norities to participate in the Associated Press
sor, Republican Chris Chris- legal marijuana market by enacted, but it would be TAX COMPARE TO OTHER
tie. New Jersey would join requiring 30 percent of li- longer until the legal mar- STATES’?
the District of Columbia censes go to these groups. ketplace is set up. Lawmakers are propos-
and 10 other states with The bill also calls for an in- Medical marijuana facili- ing the $42 per-ounce tax,
legalized recreational use vestigation on the influ- ties would be cleared to with towns permitted to tax
of the drug for adults if the ence of cannabis on driv- begin offering recreational more, up to 3 percent in
vote succeeds. ing and calls for funding cannabis soon after the bill the case of retailers.
Murphy supports the legis- drug-recognition experts passes but are required to Most states with recreation-
lation and has been calling for law enforcement. keep enough product to al marijuana levy an ex-
lawmakers seeking their ___ serve patients first. cise tax as a percentage,
support, according to his WHEN COULD YOU START It could be about six months though Alaska also levies
office. USING RECREATIONAL retail locations open since a per-ounce tax, which is
Despite Democratic con- MARIJUANA? the commission would set at $50, according to a
trol of state government, The bill says that it would be have to set guidelines. survey of tax rates by the
the issue has divided leg- legal to possess up to an ___ conservative-leaning Tax
islators, with even some ounce as soon as the bill is HOW DOES NEW JERSEY’S Foundation.q
Democrats who supported
the measure in committee
saying they weren’t com-
mitted to a yes vote on the
floor.
A closer look at the New
Jersey measure:
WHAT’S IN THE BILL?
The measure would allow
for the sale and personal
use of up to an ounce of
marijuana for people 21
and over. The drug would
be taxed at $42 an ounce,
with the ability for towns
that host growers, proces-
sors, wholesalers or retailers
to charge an additional
tax of up to 3 percent in
some cases.
The measure calls for set-
ting up a five-person can-
nabis regulatory commis-
sion, which would set the
ground rules and oversee
marijuana regulation in
New Jersey.
The governor would name
three of the five full-time
members, who would serve
for five-year terms. The As-
sembly speaker and Sen-
ate president would name
the other two members.
The proposal also calls for