The final voting session of the Legislature is this Thursday, and lawmakers are poised to consider several key bills.

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Cannabis

Both the Senate and Assembly will consider legislation that regulates adult-use cannabis in New Jersey. In November, voters passed an amendment to the state constitution legalizing adult-use cannabis, but unless and until legislation is passed to promulgate rules and regulations, there is no framework regarding the distribution and use, as well as a number of other issues relative to legalization.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (CREAMMA) is expected to go up for a vote this Thursday. The bill, A-21 (Quijano)/S-21 (Scutari), provides the legislation to direct the regulatory framework for legalized adult-use marijuana. The sponsors have been negotiating amendments in order to pass the legislation, recently agreeing to add a social justice tax, which would direct money to Black and Latino communities to support programs such as legal aid. Another question that is still on the table is the number of licenses that would be issued and the method for approving license applications for growing and selling cannabis in New Jersey.