N.J. voters approve to legalize recreational marijuana

Voters in New Jersey have approved a constitutional ballot initiative (67.2% to 32.8%) to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over and establish a framework for recreational marijuana regulation in the Garden State. New Jersey now becomes the 12th state to enact the legalization into law.

Recreational marijuana legalized in NJ

The Associated Press called the referendum just after 9:50 p.m.

Lawmakers must still pass a bill governing the rules and regulations of the industry, and Gov. Murphy, along with Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, must still name appointees to a Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which will oversee the initiative.

New Jersey is one of five states that voted on marijuana reform ballot initiatives this November.

Heading into Election Day, 11 states had already legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over, and 34 states had legalized medical marijuana.