New Jersey lawmakers advance bill to legalize recreational marijuana

(AP) - New Jersey lawmakers advanced legislation to legalize recreational marijuana.
Democratic-controlled Assembly and Senate legislative committees advanced the legislation Monday after hours of delay while legislators worked on amendments to a deal Gov. Phil Murphy and leaders announced recently.
New Jersey would join 10 states and the District of Columbia in legalizing the drug if the measure is approved.
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Murphy and Democratic legislative leaders announced a deal on legalization last week.
The bill lawmakers voted on Monday contained many of the same details Murphy announced, including a $42 an ounce tax, though towns could impose taxes of up to 3 percent in cases.
But legislators also unveiled additional details on making expunging marijuana convictions easier, like the dismissal of pending charges for possession of up to 5 pounds of cannabis.
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