One year ago today, Gov. Phil Murphy briefly switched gears during his regular COVID-19 briefing.
It had been a few hours since the Legislature had finally — after months of political theater — passed the final bill that, as part of a package, would legalize marijuana.
“New Jersey’s broken, indefensible marijuana laws … are no more,” Murphy said, as the livestream switched over to an image of a masked Murphy displaying the signed bills.
It’s been exactly one year since New Jersey became the 13th state to legalize marijuana for adult use — four more states have legalized weed since then — but, except for a few changes on paper, nothing much has changed in the Garden State.
The cannabis landscape in New Jersey is currently drawn along battle lines, with medical marijuana dispensary operators claiming the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is needlessly dragging its feet in approving applications for conversion, which would allow them to begin selling marijuana to non-medical customers.
“They’re so concerned with getting it perfect and it’s unfortunate because I think you’re losing a lot of opportunities,” Curaleaf northeast regional president Patrik Jonsson told the USA TODAY Network New Jersey in January. [Read more at Asbury Park Press]
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