What to Know
- New Jersey lawmakers are reviewing legislation proposed to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and over
- A joint Democrat-led Assembly and Senate committee is due to discuss the package of measures Monday
- Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy supports legalization, but his office didn't respond to the new legislation last Wednesday
New Jersey lawmakers have begun considering legislation to legalize recreational cannabis.
A joint Democrat-led Assembly and Senate committee on Monday began discussing the package of measures before a standing-room-only crowd.
The legislation legalizes an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and over, sets up a five-person cannabis commission and taxes cannabis at 12 percent.
That includes the 6.625 percent sales tax. The draft also allows towns and cities to apply for up to a 2 percent tax on cannabis.
Lawmakers dropped an earlier proposal to phase in a higher rate over five years from 7 percent to 25 percent.
The legislation also calls for expediting expungements for people with marijuana-related criminal backgrounds.
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Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy supports legalization. His office didn't respond when the new legislation was unveiled Wednesday.
