MjLink

New Jersey Assembly and Senate Committees Approve Different Versions of Adult-Use Cannabis Bill - MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

Cannabis Industry Business Professionals Blogs, Press Releases and News Articles from the best journalist in the industry. Stay updated on all news from many online cannabis news outlets, on MjLink.com

New Jersey Assembly and Senate Committees Approve Different Versions of Adult-Use Cannabis Bill

Cannabis Business Times Marijuana News Friday, 20 November 2020
2 minutes reading time (337 words)

New Jersey lawmakers passed two different versions of an adult-use cannabis bill out of Assembly and Senate committees Nov. 19, and must now agree on a unified proposal before the legislation can receive floor votes, according to an NJ.com report.

The Assembly Appropriations and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees both approved the bill, S.21/A.21, in 8-4 votes, the news outlet reported, but the legislation that advanced in the Senate excluded a provision that passed in the Assembly that would limit the number of licenses for adult-use cultivators in the early years of the industry.

Lawmakers hoped to hold floor votes on the legislation in both chambers next week, but the votes will be delayed as lawmakers work to reach a consensus, according to NJ.com.

Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) introduced the bill earlier this month, just days after voters approved a cannabis legalization initiative on Election Day, to implement New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis program.

After some delays due to criticism from social justice advocates, who argued that the bill did not go far enough to address the harms caused by the war on drugs, the legislation appeared to be back on track after lawmakers added amendments to generate more revenue for programs in minority communities, NJ.com reported.

“We know through legislators’ words that racial justice is a high priority in legalization, but we need to see it as a throughline in the policies they present,” ACLU-NJ Policy Director Sarah Fajardo said in a public statement. “While today’s proceedings discussed promising amendments, New Jersey’s cannabis legalization scheme still lags behind other states’ schemes in policies pertaining to racial justice and equity. We need action that puts justice in place while the bill is before lawmakers. We thank the legislature for including key changes in the bills, and urge lawmakers to actualize the community reinvestment, equity in the industry, and access to expungement in the final bill language.”

Lawmakers must pass the bill by the end of the year, before the constitutional amendment approved by voters takes effect Jan. 1.


  • Previous
  • Next

About the author

Cannabis Business Times

Author's recent posts
More posts from author
Monday, 03 November 2025 Closing Farm Bill ‘Loophole’ Would Help Hemp Industry ‘Thrive,’ Minnesota AG Says
Monday, 03 November 2025 Borealis Opens State-of-the-Art Cultivation, Production Facility in Connecticut
Monday, 03 November 2025 InterCure, Cannasoul Partner to Advance Cannabis Science, Pharmaceutical Innovation
Monday, 03 November 2025 Curaleaf Launches 5th Annual 'Feed the Block' Fundraiser to Combat Food Insecurity in US
Monday, 03 November 2025 Planet 13 Divests California Dispensary, Closes Cultivation Facility
Monday, 03 November 2025 Cannabis Consumer Survey Shows Digital Conveniences Driving Purchasing

Related Posts

Closing Farm Bill ‘Loophole’ Would Help Hemp Industry ‘Thrive,’ Minnesota AG Says

Marijuana News

Borealis Opens State-of-the-Art Cultivation, Production Facility in Connecticut

Marijuana News

InterCure, Cannasoul Partner to Advance Cannabis Science, Pharmaceutical Innovation

Marijuana News

Curaleaf Launches 5th Annual 'Feed the Block' Fundraiser to Combat Food Insecurity in US

Marijuana News

Planet 13 Divests California Dispensary, Closes Cultivation Facility

Marijuana News

Cannabis Consumer Survey Shows Digital Conveniences Driving Purchasing

Marijuana News

Copyright ©2026 MjLink


main version