Recreational marijuana bills advance in New Jersey

The New Jersey state Assembly and Senate advanced bills that would legalize recreational marijuana use in the state, according to information on the state website.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 6 to 1 with two not voting and two abstentions to advance A.B. A 4497, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act, which legalizes personal use cannabis for adults, creates a Cannabis Regulatory Commission to regulate personal use and medical cannabis, and provides expungement relief for certain past marijuana offenses.

The State Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6 to 4 with one abstention to advance its identical S.B.  S2703, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act, which legalizes personal use cannabis for adults, creates a Cannabis Regulatory Commission to regulate personal use and medical cannabis, and provides expungement relief for certain past marijuana offenses.

The bills are scheduled for a March 25 vote as New Jersey moves to legalize adult recreational marijuana use.

The cannabis industry has posed a challenge to the insurance business as capacity and coverage is constrained and a conflict remains between federal law, under which marijuana is still illegal, and some state statutes, which permit use.