Marijuana: Why the drug became illegal, and the future of legalization | USA TODAY

Marijuana: Why the drug became illegal, and the future of legalization | USA TODAY

Here’s what you need to know about the future of marijuana legalization in the United States, from its racist beginnings to today.
RELATED: https://bit.ly/3nivTCz

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey legislators have passed landmark bills which, if signed into law, will allow New Jerseyans to possess, buy and sell — with taxes levied — marijuana for adult use next year.

After weeks of negotiations and years of debate, the state Legislature is voting on two pieces of “enabling” legislation designed to turn New Jersey voters’ wishes to legalize marijuana into reality.

Marijuana users would be allowed to possess up to 6 ounces of weed without penalty under a decriminalization bill, while the other sets up the framework of a license and tax structure for the purchase and sale of legal weed.

The tax and licensure bill passed the Senate by a 23 to 17 vote and the Assembly by a 49 to 24 vote with six abstentions. It now heads to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk to become law.

» Subscribe to USA TODAY: http://bit.ly/1xa3XAh
» Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY: https://bit.ly/2XdB6B9
» USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR.

43 Comments

  1. @billyj3842 on May 30, 2024 at 9:33 am

    Should be a top priority starting January 20th



  2. @Coffinbrood on May 30, 2024 at 9:33 am

    These laws are completely contradictory



  3. @michael_stein123 on May 30, 2024 at 9:35 am

    Cocaine is a section 2 that’s hypocritical



  4. @timkahn2813 on May 30, 2024 at 9:38 am

    total waste of of police funds chasing pot smokers.



  5. @sunshin3697 on May 30, 2024 at 9:39 am

    I work at a medical dispensary in Florida. I see patients of mine heal from their nasty opioid addictions in a matter of months. It is a the cure to the opioid addiction epidemic imo … just legalize it already



  6. @peni1641 on May 30, 2024 at 9:40 am

    Be careful b/c marijuana can be laced with meth or cocaine, all ppl would smell would be mj.



  7. @mcozy333 on May 30, 2024 at 9:43 am

    0:26 enforcers of alcohol prohibition made cannabis illegal … they renamed the plant ( marijuana) and started targeting forces on that plant instead of alcohol … it was a way for Gov employees to keep an enforcement Job … that is it … and too around the time Big pharma was coming on board and did not want plants to influence peoples’ decisions when it comes to what meds to take ETC….



  8. @chrismolloy6885 on May 30, 2024 at 9:43 am

    😎



  9. @adjacent1629 on May 30, 2024 at 9:45 am

    Smh why legalize it



  10. @timhunt2500 on May 30, 2024 at 9:46 am

    @ .40 you lied. Were do you think we all for the last 100yrs got most of our smoke? We all smoked it. And I for one are grateful they shared with me. So F**king what if they are Hispanic or not. America made a lot of mistakes and you sir are one of them. Peddle your BS some were else. South America, Our family by the way! God Speed every one!



  11. @drsmetal2747 on May 30, 2024 at 9:46 am

    And till this say, majority of Republican politicians refuse to evolve.



  12. @andyog8252 on May 30, 2024 at 9:47 am

    So they will take my felony away for having a ounce back in 2012?



  13. @joemartin1253 on May 30, 2024 at 9:49 am

    Thanks to Big Pharma the legal drug cartels!



  14. @nonyabeezee8784 on May 30, 2024 at 9:50 am

    Making a plant illegal is a human rights violation



  15. @aakashtigerr on May 30, 2024 at 9:52 am

    First comment💬
    Is mine



  16. @jsciba8211 on May 30, 2024 at 9:55 am

    it might just take a crooked senile man to legalize marijuana and that’s sad



  17. @PotTVNetwork on May 30, 2024 at 9:55 am

    Free the weed. Free the people. No more prison for pot.



  18. @shannanschisler8485 on May 30, 2024 at 9:56 am

    Very good. You must try Weedborn CBD.



  19. @dabbleshells542 on May 30, 2024 at 9:57 am

    Congressmen, senators, please pass this bill to the president. Change is needed.



  20. @aaroncelathian6777 on May 30, 2024 at 9:58 am

    Mary Jane is the wife of Peter Parker
    _nuff said_



  21. @josephprice2490 on May 30, 2024 at 9:59 am

    Go trump



  22. @DonaldCowling-fw5vg on May 30, 2024 at 9:59 am

    Who suffered the taxpayers 😎🎄



  23. @mickyskickreviews4826 on May 30, 2024 at 10:01 am

    The title is wrong.
    “Why the Plant became illegal “



  24. @luifernandi on May 30, 2024 at 10:05 am

    you 10 republicans to pass it. that is never going to happen they to keep send ppl to jail so they can keep winning.



  25. @ricardovillafuerte3335 on May 30, 2024 at 10:07 am

    My theory is that the major reason USA started the war on drugs was because they weren’t making the profit. Now that they’re making the profit on marijuana NOW it’s perfectly fine. 🧐



  26. @operanonverba4781 on May 30, 2024 at 10:07 am

    ..weed lives matter!!



  27. @NinjaRunningWild on May 30, 2024 at 10:08 am

    How the hell did they inject racism into this video?!?



  28. @randstahl4869 on May 30, 2024 at 10:10 am

    Alcohol is way-way more addictive than marijuana, and alcohol abuse proves to be way-way more harmful. Yet alcohol remains legal and widely available. Marijuana prohibition borders on preposterous public policy. Marijuana offers more benefits than producing harm.



  29. @mariogarcia8693 on May 30, 2024 at 10:11 am

    FREEDOM is best free the safe plant with 0 death ever free this plant asap



  30. @K_Nasty on May 30, 2024 at 10:12 am

    This uses to be the stuff of conspiracies . I cant wait to see the one about E.Ts.



  31. @johnwilliams919 on May 30, 2024 at 10:14 am

    So taxes on weed is nuts…but if we can take that money and use it to help with you know, the APOCALYPSE we have from last year then I dont mind. If I cant afford the taxed weed then it time for a break.



  32. @locojazz5770 on May 30, 2024 at 10:15 am

    *Legalize and Decriminalize* ❕



  33. @chipschannel9494 on May 30, 2024 at 10:16 am

    Tricky dick did it (sch. 1) because the study he commissioned told him that they could find nothing harmful about it , talk about spiteful and vindictive.



  34. @derekvest8071 on May 30, 2024 at 10:17 am

    The federal government said pot has madicanel value than why would you reschedule it makes no since canabis is the only drug usesed that has a substatly high medical value along with strong therapeutic thc



  35. @somyapatra7111 on May 30, 2024 at 10:17 am

    Making drugs legal is a crime against humanity.
    All behind it will bear that burden for life and after.



  36. @operanonverba4781 on May 30, 2024 at 10:19 am

    ..doesn’t matter if it’s legal; good paying jobs will control what you decide to do on your off time!



  37. @joeperez9395 on May 30, 2024 at 10:22 am

    It’s such a racist and stupid law. We have good people going to jail for a flower. It’s like being sent to jail for having roses. SMH



  38. @simssimms6522 on May 30, 2024 at 10:22 am

    It turns people into idiots keep it illegal and make alcohol a schedule 2 drug



  39. @bridgetterigney3586 on May 30, 2024 at 10:23 am

    It’s a crime not to have all states past all states we be past in 2021



  40. @bridgetterigney3586 on May 30, 2024 at 10:25 am

    It’s crime if not past in all states pass in all states in 2021



  41. @calismoke8075 on May 30, 2024 at 10:25 am

    420 24/7



  42. @attaist on May 30, 2024 at 10:28 am

    It’s crazy how marijuana is illegal ( in most states) and alcohol isn’t……..



  43. @nickkinney4530 on May 30, 2024 at 10:29 am

    The dam Republicans need to get on board. Legalize cannabis.