On February 22, 2021, Governor Murphy signed three expansive pieces of legislation that create the framework for the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis in the State.  The new law creates a laundry list of action items that must be addressed by municipal governing bodies within specified time frames.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (the "Compassionate Use Act") protects medicinal cannabis users with regard to the terms and conditions of employment. The Compassionate Use Act expressly prohibits an employer from taking any adverse employment action against a medical cannabis user if that adverse employment action is based "solely on the employee's status" as a medical cannabis patient.  

On March 12, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy and legislative leaders announced an agreement on the legalization of adult-use marijuana in New Jersey. This agreement sets up the possibility of a vote on adult-use marijuana legislation before March 25, 2019.