On February 22, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, D, legalized recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over. Then, beginning this past summer, the New Jersey Judiciary began working on automatic expungements for previous cannabis convictions. This past Thursday, September 16, the Judiciary released a statement saying more than 362,000 cases had been expunged since efforts began in July. Additionally, approximately 1,200 individuals on probation became released with expunged records in hand. 

The statement explains, “Cases with offenses eligible for expungement include certain marijuana or hashish charges alone or in combination with the following: possession of drug paraphernalia; use or being under the influence of a controlled, dangerous substance; and failure to make lawful disposition of a controlled, dangerous substance.”

The New Jersey Judiciary also plans on launching a public education campaign soon to help more people understand opportunities for relief. There have been some people who didn’t qualify for automatic expungement the courts have been doing since July. However, everyone with a cannabis conviction is encouraged to apply for expungement. 

Governor Murphy tweeted about the success of the state’s Judiciary this summer. “With our new cannabis laws, we are turning the page on the failed War on Drugs and ensuring social justice here in New Jersey.”

Reform

Expungement efforts aren’t the only thing moving forward in New Jersey on cannabis reform. Recently, the state’s appointed cannabis regulators officially published the regulations for recreational cannabis in a retail setting. These regulations are a big step forward towards establishing a legal retail system. However, around 70 percent of jurisdictions in the state have opted out of the state program.

It seems confusing at first. But several of the jurisdictions haven’t had a chance to establish rules on zoning, taxes, and other concerns. By opting out of the state’s program, jurisdictions can establish their own rules, see how the rest of the state functions with legalization, and join the program as individual jurisdictions see fit.  

As more and more jurisdictions legalize recreational sales, New Jersey citizens can experience recreational cannabis to its fullest. 

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