In addition to casting a ballot in the U.S. presidential election in November, New Jersey voters will have an opportunity to vote in a referendum to pass adult-use cannabis legislation. This referendum, if passed, will amend the New Jersey Constitution to legalize adult-use cannabis for personal, non-medical use.

Instead of taking on this issue directly, on Dec. 16, 2019, the New Jersey legislature voted to take the issue to the public when it approved submitting the following question to the voters on the State’s November ballot:

Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called “cannabis”? Only adults at least 21 years of age could use cannabis. The State’s commission created to oversee the State’s medical cannabis program would also oversee the new, personal use cannabis market. Cannabis products would be subject to the State sales tax. If authorized by the Legislature, a municipality may pass a local ordinance to charge a local tax on cannabis products. (SCR183 at page 4)