Gov. Phil Murphy said he will sign a measure on July 2 to dramatically expand the state’s medical marijuana program.

The move would mark a victory for cannabis and social justice advocates, especially after the governor and legislative leadership conceded in March that they did not have enough support for a cannabis-legalization bill to pass in the state Senate.

“On Tuesday, [First Lady Tammy Murphy] and I will join the Honig family in Freehold to sign the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act into law,” Murphy tweeted on Friday. “We must continue to knock down barriers so that this life-changing medical treatment is affordable and accessible.

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WASHINGTON — Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, along with Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein, of California, and Brian Schatz, of Hawaii, introduced a new bill that would expand medical research of marijuana and its compounds.

"The parents of children with severe epilepsy and other conditions are interested in cannabidiol to try to ease their children's symptoms. I understand their interest. Research is necessary to determine the potential medical value of cannabidiol, and wherever possible, the government should help facilitate the scientific research needed to give these parents the answers they need," Grassley said.

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