New Jersey Could Soon Be the Second-Largest State for Marijuana After California

Democratic state Sen. Nicholas Scutari introduced a bill earlier this year to legalize recreational marijuana and believes a law regulating the retail marijuana industry could be passed in early 2018.

madison.com

July 18, 2017

Gov. Chris Christie has been firmly opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana. Arrests for marijuana possession in New Jersey are at all-time highs, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. So why is New Jersey potentially on the way to legalizing recreational marijuana? Elections are coming.

STATE BY STATE: New Jersey Cannabis News

On Nov. 7, 2017, New Jersey citizens will elect a new governor and state legislature. All 80 seats in the state's general assembly are up for grabs. The Democrat Party gubernatorial candidate, Phil Murphy, is way ahead in the polls right now. Going into the election, Democrats hold a 52-28 majority in the general assembly.

Murphy, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany when former President Barack Obama was in office, has publicly stated his support for legalization of recreational marijuana. He could have a legislature that agrees with him.