Hearings Scheduled To Legalize Recreational Marijuana in New Jersey

On November 26, the long-fought-for battle to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey will take a major step when state lawmakers debate the bill to legalize its use. Debate on the law—titled “The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act”—begins on November 26, and is expected to be followed by a full legislative vote on the Senate and Assembly floors.

What the Final Legislation Looks Like

The current draft of the bill does the following:

• Legalizes the ownership and use of one ounce or less for individuals who are at least 21 years old;
• Creates, imposes, and regulates a 12 percent tax on commercial marijuana;
• Raises an extra two percent excise tax for towns that host marijuana businesses;
• Creates an expedited expungement process for people with prior convictions for owning an ounce or less of marijuana. The bill mandates that the Administrative Office of the Courts create an electronic filing system for these expungements;
• Permits cannabis delivery services and the creation of “consumption areas,” where individuals could use marijuana near dispensaries that are separate from the retail operation areas.

Disagreement & Social Justice

Legalization over the final bill has recently faced delays as some in the Senate and Governor’s office disagreed over whether there should be a new commission established to regulate the new industry and what the new tax rate should be. Still, the final bill contains a number of social justice aspects, from allowing individuals who have prior criminal records for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana to have those records expunged, to creating specific opportunities for disabled veterans, minorities, and women to participate in the business side.

Additional Hearings & Bills on Medical Marijuana

Changes are also expected to be made to New Jersey’s medicinal marijuana industry, as the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee is expected to meet and approve two additional bills that will make the market more consumer-friendly and economically viable. Governor Murphy has already added to the list of qualifying medical conditions and lowered the cost of patient registration in New Jersey. New legislation that will come before the Committee is expected to help control the cost of the product, allow doctors to more freely recommend the program in general, as well as attract investors.

Contact Our New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers

During transitional periods like that of New Jersey’s, there can be confusion amongst both citizens and law enforcement regarding what is legal and illegal, leading to a number of wrongful arrests. If you have been charged with possession of marijuana in New Jersey, contact our experienced criminal defense attorneys at the office of Phillip J. Murphy today to find out how we can help.

Resource:

nj.com/marijuana/2018/11/nj_officially_on_path_to_recreational_marijuana_he.html