“Before Gov. Murphy took over, there were only 17,000 patients in New Jersey and only 500 doctors,” said Jeff Brown, assistant commissioner for medicinal marijuana at the New Jersey Department of Health. In late 2018, the state doubled the number of permits to marijuana companies. The permits will allow six additional cannabis-growing facilities and dispensaries to open this year. The state legislature in Trenton is considering a bill that would legalize all forms of marijuana for adult recreational use.