New Jersey residents to vote on adult-use marijuana next year

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In a historic vote, a supermajority of New Jersey lawmakers passed a proposed ballot question on Monday to legalize recreational marijuana, putting the referendum before voters on the 2020 ballot.

The Democrat-led Assembly approved the measure 49-24, with one abstention, while the Senate passed the question 24-16.

The measure doesn’t need the approval of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, although he is an advocate of legalizing adult-use marijuana.

The larger-than-three-fifths majorities in both chambers ensures the question will be put to voters by 2020.

Had only a simple majority of both houses passed the question, then lawmakers would have been required to hold a second vote in the new session, which starts Jan. 14.

– Jeff Smith and Associated Press