Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey is giving the state Legislature until May to pass a pair of bills to expand the state’s medical marijuana program and legalize recreational marijuana.
Murphy has said that he would have to expand medical marijuana on his own if nothing happens.
According to three legislative sources who spoke to NJ Advance media, his plans may hurt their chance at finally legalizing weed soon.
The anonymous sources said that if marijuana isn’t legal by the end of May, it may not happen until the end of 2019.
The recreational marijuana bill has less backers than the bill to expand the state’s medical marijuana program.
Murphy has said that he had plans to sign an executive order within days expanding medical marijuana to cover up to 200,000 patients in the state. Those plans were nixed but the Governor then announced the May deadline.
“We’re not gonna wait around a lot,” he said.