As New Jersey lawmakers will soon debate the finer points of marijuana legalization, many people across the state -- and the nation -- are wondering one thing: How can we get in on it?

An event later this month will aim to answer that question, and the million others surrounding an industry that could generate more than $1 billion, according to recent estimates.

The New Jersey Cannabis Symposium is being held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Hosting the event are a handful of companies and groups advocating marijuana legalization.

"We see this event as a way to detail the required (and) recommended resources for applicants, and at the same time help ancillary companies to understand the process and needs of applicants, and how they can position themselves to serve the market effectively," said Joshua Bauchner, attorney with Ansell Grimm & Aaron, which is co-hosting the event.

The symposium will cover writing a marijuana business plan, getting licensed, finding real estate, and the tax implications of running a cannabis business, among other topics. The panel will be comprised of business owners, lawyers and others who have experience in the cannabis industry.

Of course, the event is moot unless New Jersey lawmakers actually legalize marijuana.

Gov. Phil Murphy has pledged to sign a bill legalizing weed. Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, reintroduced a legalization bill last week, which would permit possession and personal use of up to an ounce of marijuana, while also imposing taxes and regulations on commercial sales.

Another bill, to be introduced later this month, would allow people to grow weed at home, among a few key differences from Scutari's bill.

Lawmakers and advocates say that changes should be expected to whichever bill dominates the debate in the coming months.

Regardless of which bill gains traction in the state Legislature, organizers of the symposium say New Jersey pot entrepreneurs need to get started now.

"Everybody that is already in the industry is on the 50-yard line," said Brian Staffa, co-founder of BSC Group, a marijuana management company, who is one of the symposium's hosts. "Everybody that's starting fresh is on their own goal line. Unless they start now, they're too far behind."

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Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.