Yesterday, the Assembly and Senate passed a revised medical marijuana expansion bill. A-20/S-20 is new legislation but closely mirrors the previous legislation A-10 in most areas. The new bill apparently reflects negotiations between the Governor’s office and the Legislature.
The new legislation was just made available yesterday and the League is reviewing the bill. The statement from the Assembly Appropriations Committee summarizes the legislation. It appears, on first glance, that the major difference between the bill now headed to the Governor and the previous legislation is the raising of the cultivator cap to 28, instead of 23. The Murphy Administration will now amend the request for applications. Instead of making 108 licenses available for new marijuana businesses, it will now accept 5 cultivation/growth facilities, 15 dispensaries, and 4 vertically “integrated alternative treatment centers."
Language permitting municipalities to assess an up-to-2% local option tax at the point of sale and requiring municipal endorsement for facilities was preserved.
The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120