TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults, clearing a path for Gov. Phil Murphy to sign it into law.
The state Senate on Thursday passed the legislation 23-17 — not long after the state Assembly passed it 49-24, with six abstentions, NJ.com reported.
Lawmakers still need Murphy's signature for the bill to become law, but securing the governor's support is not expected to be a hurdle, as he has long supported the measure.
It wasn't immediately clear when the governor would sign off on the measure, which will also set up a recreational marijuana marketplace.
"We inherited the largest white, non-white gap of persons incarcerated in America in our criminal justice system. And the overwhelming reason was low-end drug crime," Murphy said in an interview with 1010 WINS after a majority of New Jerseyans voted to legalize recreational marijuana last month.
"And so we've been trying to get to this day for a long time," he added. "The big thing here is it addresses huge social injustice that's been built up over the years," he added.
The bill will legalize marijuana for adults over the age of 21.
