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 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
