New Jersey Inches Forward on Legalizing Marijuana

After months of debate over whether New Jersey should legalize recreational marijuana, members of the state's Senate and Assembly have voted to nudge the issue forward.

During a joint hearing Monday, the Democrat-led Assembly and Senate budget committees voted to move a bill legalizing weed to a floor vote after several hours of debate. The measures would legalize up to an ounce of marijuana for possession and sale, create a five-member cannabis commission and set taxes at 12 percent. In addition, the draft legislation would allow towns and cities to apply for up to 2 percent in additional taxes on recreational marijuana, as well as expediting the process to expunge the records of people charged with marijuana-related crimes.

But the hearing wasn't free from the political feud between Gov. Phil Murphy and Senate President Steven Sweeney, both Democrats. WNYC reporter Karen Rouse told All Things Considered host Sean Carlson that Murphy scheduled a press conference on raising the state's minimum wage for the same time as the marijuana hearing.

"He basically emphasized that it was time for the legislature to take action on raising the minimum wage from its current rate of $8.60 to $15," Rouse said. "The implication was that Sweeney was the holdup."

For more on the politicking over legal marijuana, as well as the legislature's attempts to take action on redistricting, click the "Listen" button.