It’s been a little over four months since New Jersey citizens voted for Public Question 1. This called for the legalization of adult-use cannabis for those over 21. Many cheered the effort of activists and lawmakers making this step forward. New Jersey legalized medical cannabis back in 2010. Many are saying it’s time for recreational usage to become legal as well. Lawmakers tossed the ball to the New Jersey governor for his signature shortly after the start of the year.
Public Question 1
However Governor Phil Murphy (D) didn’t seem fully set on legalization, not without a few changes. This hindered the implementation process of legal cannabis and citizens and lawmakers became very outspoken about this delay. Governor Murphy expressed concern about young people caught with cannabis. Originally, there were no penalties for underage consumption and possession, which would encourage underage usage since there were no punishments. So the House and the Senate scrambled together to create A5342. This assembly bill addresses the concerns Governor Murphy expressed.
The bill created guidelines for those found using cannabis, as well as alcohol, underage. They will receive a written warning every time they are caught, which is a petty disorderly persons offense. The more times an underage citizen is caught with alcohol and/or cannabis, the harsher the punishment will be. But only up to a certain amount of fines. There will never be the threat of imprisonment.
Pushback
Some lawmakers protest this new bill attached to the legalization of recreational marijuana usage. Senate Judiciary Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D) has spoken up against this measure before. He says that Public Question 1 and subsequent legislation has already addressed underage usage and penalties. What Governor Murphy is demanding could threaten to perpetuate the war on drugs’ racial discriminatory enforcement. Officers continue to make marijuana possession and usage arrests despite Public Question 1 legalization. This could continue towards minors as well as minority communities, like African Americans and Hispanics. Statistically, they are prosecuted more than their White counterparts despite similar usage.
Nonetheless, Governor Murphy signed The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act on Monday February 22, making Public Question 1 legal within the state.
“This legislation will establish an industry that brings equity and economic opportunity to our communities, while establishing minimum standards for safe products and allowing law enforcement to focus their resources on real public safety matters,” said Governor Murphy. “Today, we’re taking a monumental step forward to reduce racial disparities in our criminal justice system, while building a promising new industry and standing on the right side of history. I’d like to thank the Legislature, advocates, faith leaders, and community leaders for their dedicated work and partnership on this critical issue.”
Future
US House Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman and US Senator Cory Booker, both democrats from New Jersey, took to Twitter to show their excitement and support for adult-use cannabis legalization.
The implementation process is still in it’s beginning stages. There has been no development as far as law enforcement education and retail sales go. But for now, any possession less than one ounce for recreational purposes is legal for those over 21. This is a huge step forward in the effort to decriminalize and legalize marijuana across the country. The more states who legalize, the more revenue the state sees and the happier it’s citizens are. It’s a positive step forward to end the War on Drugs and make a marijuana future feasible.
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