NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Legalizing recreational marijuana in New Jersey took a big step forward late this week after delays.
The last hang-up in legalizing marijuana in the state was how to treat underage possession.
Gov. Phil Murphy wanted a specific plan, so state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, who developed the marijuana framework, had to go back to the drawing board.
“This is an area that many legislators felt that we had to address in more detail,” Scutari said.
The result was a bill that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday. It decriminalizes both marijuana possession and drinking for people under 21.
It will be a three-tiered approach. If you’re under 21 and caught with marijuana or alcohol, the first time will be a warning. The second time, your parents will find out. The third time means community service or a substance abuse education program.
"This is just a unique and more progressive way of looking at how we want to curb those behaviors, because we don't believe it's appropriate, but on the other hand we also don't want to introduce them into the court system for something like this," Scutari said.
The bill heads to the full Legislature on Monday.
“Cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to get it done on Monday, and hopefully we can get this process started,” said Scutari, the bill’s sponsor.
Gov. Phil Murphy faces a Monday deadline to act on different legislation already on his desk to legalize the recreational marijuana market for people 21 and over. Another bill on his desk also facing a deadline decriminalizes marijuana.
Murphy has to act Monday because if the Assembly meets, 45 days will have elapsed since the marijuana legalization legislation passed. If he doesn’t act, the bill becomes law without his signature. He could sign it, veto it outright or veto it with changes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.