Category Archives: marijuana
Legalizing Pot in New Jersey Comes up Again, This Time for Use at the State’s Poker Tables
We’ve discussed the potential decriminalization of marijuana before, particularly as it pertains to social and criminal justice issues, with lives derailed by what often turns out to be youthful indiscretions. Not only has a federal law been introduced, but in May, Senator Scutari of New Jersey recently introduced a bill that would allow for… Read More »
Federal Bill to Legalize Marijuana Introduced
On August 1st, Senator Cory Booker introduced legislation—the Marijuana Justice Act—to legalize cannabis at the federal level. The bill removes cannabis from the list of drugs covered by the Controlled Substances Act, automatically expunges marijuana use and possession, incentivizes states to change their own laws if they’ve had a disproportionate effect on low-income, African-American… Read More »
New Jersey Legislation Could Legalize Recreational Use of Marijuana
On the week of May 16th, Senator Nicholas Scutari introduced a bill that would allow for the recreational use of marijuana in the state of New Jersey. Not only would the legislation allow for marijuana to be recreationally used, but also grown, sold, and taxed in the state, allowing New Jersey to join the… Read More »
What’s Ahead for The Decriminalization of Marijuana?
When it comes to the legalization and regulation of marijuana, it is important to keep in mind that there is a difference between federal authority to manage recreational vs. medical marijuana insofar as what authority the Justice Department has to enforce federal laws banning the product (i.e. arresting and prosecuting citizens for drug possession)…. Read More »
This Election Season, States Take One Step Closer to Decriminalizing Marijuana
This year, while many worried about which candidate would win, many others focused on a very different aspect of the election: the legalization of marijuana, a substance that is still the culprit of many drug convictions each year in and outside of New York. In addition, two bills currently in Congress—the Marijuana Access to… Read More »
Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
Nationally, there has been much debate over the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use. In 2014, the State of New York became one of the 22 states allowing access to marijuana for medical purposes. In addition, the New York Police Department changed its protocol regarding treatment of individuals who possessed small amounts… Read More »
Criminal Possession of Marijuana: The Possible Penalties Upon Conviction
A previous article on this blog discussed the potential impacts of unlawful possession of marijuana in the state of New York. Although unlawful possession of marijuana is a violation in the state of New York, you may still be arrested and charged criminally for possessing marijuana anywhere in the state. New York’s penal code… Read More »