Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration is walking back its public plans for expanding New Jersey’s medical marijuana program after fielding concerns from state legislative leaders, a senior administration official said Tuesday.
“The medical announcement is on hold based on our conversations with the legislature. We determined at the time being, we’re going to work on passing this legislatively,” the official told POLITICO. “That’s not to say at a later juncture we’ll not increase supply rapidly … [but] right now, we’re on hold. We’re all in on the legislative strategy.”
A legislative source said there were concerns that medical expansion could harm the prospects for legalization.
Hours after Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin canceled a vote on a package of bills that would have legalized recreational cannabis, instituted new criminal justice reforms and expanded the state’s medical marijuana program, Murphy said his administration was planning to increase the state's supply of medical cannabis on its own.
