Recreational cannabis clears NJ Assembly, Senate committees.

Byline: Jessica Perry

Committees in both the Assembly and state Senate approved a measure that would legalize adult-use recreational marijuana, setting the proposals for a showdown full-floor vote on March 25.

Senate Bill 2703 passed by a 6-4 vote with one abstention in the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday evening while its counterpart, Assembly Bill 4497, passed by a 6-1 vote with two abstentions at the Assembly Appropriations Committee that same day.

Both measures would allow for anyone over 21 years of age to possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

The product would be taxed at $42 an ounce and the industry regulated by a five-person Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which will...