Lawmakers say they're no longer targeting Oct. 29 as the date to vote on a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey.

Two top lawmakers, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, are now expecting to get something voted on – and passed – by the end of the year, Patch has learned. The lawmakers apparently still need to iron out their differences with what the Murphy administration wants. It wasn't exactly clear at press time what all those differences were, but Patch has learned that Sweeney and Murphy differ on the amount of the tax. Sweeney has said that the tax should be no more than 12 percent.

Coughlin said during a press conference this week that lawmakers want to make sure they get the legislation "right" before moving forward on it. "The current system doesn't work because, A, it doesn't prevent eople from using marijuana and, B it has led to a great deal of social injustice," Coughlin said during an interview this week.

There also may not be enough votes. Assemblyman Ronald Rice, D-Essex, told Patch this week that he's not prepared to support legalization. A former police officer, Rice believes legalization will encourage crime and intoxicated driving. He supports decriminalization instead.

"I think legalization would be a mistake," the Democrat said.

Lawmakers were also starting to hedge their bets this past week now that investigations into an alleged sex assault committed by a former Murphy staffer have been launched.

Lawmakers privately told nj.com they believe it's possible the work required to launch the investigations could push back the marijuana bill vote. Read more: Yes, NJ Marijuana Legalization Vote Could Be Delayed: Here's Why