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New Jersey appears closer than ever to legalizing recreational marijuana. The state's top lawmaker recently said a vote could come as early as next month.

But what does Gov. Phil Murphy, the man who's made this a key vow, say about that?

Murphy said during his television show Tuesday night that he hopes state leaders can have legal pot wrapped up by the end of the year.

"I would hope that's this year's business, if folks are looking for a specific timeframe," the Democrat said on "Ask the Governor" on News 12. "I'd like to think it's something we get done this year."

New Jersey's highest-ranking lawmaker, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, agrees.

Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told reporters earlier this month he believes the Democrat-controlled state Legislature could vote on a bill legalizing weed by September. And he said this week he believes he'll "have the votes" to pass it.

Still, Sweeney stressed he hasn't done an official head count yet, and lawmakers actually have to introduce a bill first.

"Until we have a bill to show everybody -- you have to have something to show people," Sweeney told NJ Advance Media. "We'll get it passed. We'll get the votes to get it passed. We've just got to present the bill first."

Murphy campaigned on legalizing marijuana, both as a way to improve social justice in New Jersey and to bring the state new tax revenue.

After taking office in January, he called on the Legislature to pass a bill by the end of the year.

But legal pot has drawn backlash from many lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican. There have also been squabbles about what the legislation will look like and how it would be tied to expanding the state's medical marijuana program.

That has led to uncertainty over whether New Jersey will meet Murphy's Jan. 1 deadline.

For any bill to become law, both houses of the Legislature would need to pass it and then Murphy would need to sign it.

Murphy said Tuesday that any bill would likely allow only people 21 and older to use recreational pot.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.