Gov. Murphy names head of panel for legal marijuana

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday named his associate counsel to lead the commission that will oversee the state's new recreational marijuana marketplace. 

Dianna Houenou, who serves as legal counsel to Murphy's administration, will chair the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Before working in Murphy's administration, Houenou was policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey.

• New Jersey warns: Marijuana isn't legal yet

Murphy, a Democrat, made the announcement during a news conference in Trenton. It comes just days after New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana for people 21 and older. The amendment goes into effect at the start of next year and calls for state regulators to set up a marketplace for the legal sale of the drug. 

Dianna Houenou

It's unclear when marijuana will be ready to hit retail shelves in the state. Advocates for legalization said the soonest they expect it could happen would be toward the end of 2021. 

The Democrat-led Legislature and Murphy must first enact legislation setting up the marketplace.