New Jersey governor signs laws to legalize marijuana use, decriminalize possession
Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law legislation setting up a recreational marijuana marketplace, decriminalizing cannabis and loosening penalties for possession
Monday, February 22, 2021
Legislation to set up a recreational marijuana marketplace, decriminalize cannabis and loosen penalties for underage possession of the drug and alcohol was signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, more than three months after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot to legalize adult use of the drug. The Democrat-led Assembly and Senate passed the last-minute measure to ease penalties on underage possession of both alcohol and marijuana to secure Democratic Gov. Murphy’s signature on legislation they had sent him in December. Murphy had earlier said he backed the legislation, but delayed signing for more than two months amid concerns that young people of color could still face arrests, running afoul of his goal of undoing the effects of the war on drugs in Black communities.
