Bill To Legalize Marijuana In NJ

TRENTON -- With an avowed enemy of marijuana legalization sworn-in as the nation's Attorney General Thursday, the state lawmaker working to make pot available for recreational use in New Jersey said he is "concerned" but not deterred from his goal.
Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said he's putting the finishing touches on a bill he will introduce that would make the sale and possession of marijuana legal for recreational use in New Jersey. Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions' appointment as the highest law enforcement officer in the nation doesn't change his plans.
"It doesn't give me pause. It's a concern but we are not going to pause," Scutari told NJ Advance Media Thursday. "Hopefully he will follow what President Trump said as a candidate -- that it's a states' rights issue."


A growing of state lawmakers are warming to the idea based on the record of revenue Colorado has enjoyed since its law took effect in 2014. In taxes and fees, Colorado took in $135 million in 2015. The potential financial benefits of legalization were highlighted in a report estimating New Jersey could reap $300 million a year in sales tax revenue.
The legal marijuana market was valued at $6.7 billion in the United States and Canada, according to Arcview Market Research, which specializes in the cannabis industry.


Gov. Chris Christie is also opposed to legal marijuana for recreational use. Christie has reluctantly implemented a law signed by Gov. Jon Corzine to create a medical marijuana program, which served nearly 11,000 people as of January.
With Christie gone as of January 2018, Scutari said he hopes his bill will become law under the next administration.

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http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/nj_lawmakers_will_vote_on_legalizing_pot_despite_t.html