TRENTON - If the bill to legalize marijuana in New Jersey is cleared by two committees today, it could set up the Garden State as the 11th state to legalize weed for adult-use as soon as next week.
Committee hearings are scheduled today on landmark legislation to legalize, tax and regulate weed, significantly expand the medical marijuana program and expunge the records of those convicted of low-level marijuana offenses.
The Assembly Appropriations and Senate Judiciary committees will hold hearings on the bill package, with the Assembly committee convening at noon and the Senate committee starting at 2 p.m.
If the bill clears both committees, they could be headed for a floor vote as soon as next week. But that's only if the bill has enough votes to ensure passage, said Kevin McArdle, a spokesman for the Assembly Democratic caucus.
