It’s 2021: Is marijuana legal yet in NJ?

After an easy win for legal recreational weed as part of November elections across the Garden State, the new year has started without a clear path to such sales.

State legislators had been expected to vote on amendments to the measures for recreational marijuana on Monday, which then might finally be signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy.

But on Friday, the sponsors pulled the bill after concerns raised by black lawmakers, Politico New Jersey reported. Murphy had requested the amendments in order to include penalties for underage use of marijuana but enough lawmakers were concerned that the compromise bill would end up disproportionately impacting black youth. One of the impetuses behind the movement for legalization and decriminalization was that the drug war unfairly affected minorities.

Both Republicans and progressive advocates have faulted lawmakers for rushing through the legislative process.

It is unclear what the next steps will be on this legislation.

Another necessary step toward legal sales is the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, made up of five members — three people appointed by the governor, one appointed by the state Senate president and one by the speaker of the Assembly.

Murphy already announced his picks in November.

Here are answers to some of the most-asked questions on the future of legal pot in New Jersey in 2021.