New Jersey Governor-Elect Vows to Legalize Marijuana in First 100 Days
New Jersey voters have elected Philip D. Murphy as their next governor.
New Jersey Governor-elect Philip Murphy.
The election of Governor-elect Murphy comes as amazing news to advocates of marijuana legalization; the former Wall Street banker says he has a plan to legalize marijuana in his first 100 days in office. If successful, New Jersey would become the 9th state to legalize marijuana for personal use.
Governor-elect Murphy’s position on legalizing marijuana couldn’t be further from the position of outgoing Governor Chris Christie, who staunchly opposes legalization and has done everything in his power to weaken the state’s medical cannabis program. Christie is leaving office with the lowest approval rating for a governor in New Jersey history.
In May, State Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) unveiled a proposal that would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older, establishing a system of licensed and regulated cannabis retail outlets and cultivation centers. According to statewide Rutgers-Eagleton poll, 58% of voters in New Jersey support the move to legalize marijuana for adults.
