Fourteen states and DC have already legalized cannabis.
New Jersey officially became the last state to allow recreational use of marijuana.
The New Jersey state legislature passed a series of bills on Monday that regulate the sale of cannabis to anyone over the age of 21. Governor Phil Murphy said he signed the projects later in the day.
“This legislation will establish an industry that brings equity and economic opportunity to our communities, while setting minimum standards for safe products and allowing authorities to focus their resources on real issues of public security,” he said in a statement.
Voters overwhelmingly approved an electoral measure last November that changed the state’s constitution to allow marijuana legalization.
Under the new rules, the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will oversee licensing applications from cannabis companies.
“The legislation further provides for the Legislature to reinvest cannabis recipes in designated” impact zones “; instructs the CRC to promote diversity and inclusion in business ownership; and contains critical employment protections for people engaging in legal behavior. in relation to cannabis “the governor’s office said in a press release.
One of the new laws reform penalties for low-grade marijuana offenses. “It prevents low-level distribution and possession offenses from being used in parole, parole and parole decisions and provides certain protections against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation,” according to the cabinet. of the governor.
Another part of the approved legislation will apply penalties for the sale of marijuana to minors under 21 years of age.
State legislators took weeks to draft the bills and approve them due to concerns about penalties and ensuring that sales were prohibited to minors.
“Although this process took longer than anticipated, I believe it is ending in the right place and will ultimately serve as a national model,” said Murphy in a statement.
Supporters who have been pressuring states and the country to legalize and regulate marijuana said the approval of the bills was a major victory. DeVaughn Ward, the senior legislative adviser to the nonprofit group Marijuana Policy Project, told ABC News that the New Jersey legislation “will create avenues for restorative justice and equity”.
“It took a lot of commitment and hard work on the part of legislative leaders and Governor Murphy to make it cross the finish line and they should be commended for their efforts,” he said in a statement.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia allow the sale of recreational and medical marijuana.
The Virginia state legislature is expected to vote on a bill that would legalize marijuana in her state and Governor Ralph Northam has expressed support.