[The effort to legalize marijuana in New Jersey collapsed on Monday. Read the latest updates here.]

This week the New Jersey Legislature could pass the most progressive recreational marijuana bill in the country. Lawmakers were poised to vote on the issue as early as today.

New York may not legalize marijuana anytime soon.

My colleagues Nick Corasaniti, who covers New Jersey, and Vivian Wang, who covers the New York Legislature, explained.

What makes New Jersey’s marijuana bill so progressive?

Mr. Corasaniti: Mainly, two things: criminal records and access to the market.

• First, the bill would make it possible to expunge nonviolent criminal records for marijuana-related offenses (up to five pounds, one of the highest thresholds in the country).

People with past convictions, or who are incarcerated or on parole, would be eligible for a clean slate, and they could request expungement online.