By Art Gallagher
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After hours of delays for last minute amendments which caused the suspension of testimony and debate a legislation that legalizes and establishes a regulatory structure of recreation marijuana passed the Assembly Appropriates Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday night, according to reports on Politico, InsiderNJ and NJGlobe.
Legislation to expunge marijuana convictions, including felony convictions for selling over 5 lbs of pot, passed the committees. The felony expungement provisions prompted a strong reaction from Republican Senators Kip Bateman (Somerset), Michael Doherty (Warren) and Gerald Cardinale (Bergen). Bateman said the bill contained “evil.” Doherty said that the bill is a “deal with the devil.” Cardinale suggested calling the bill, “the Drug Pusher’s Friend Act.”
