Lawmakers in both chambers will introduce a bill allowing police officers to notify the parents of underage marijuana users on the first offense instead of the second.
“While New Jersey has made recreational Marijuana legal in the state of New Jersey, it is still illegal for minors to possess or consume it. If a minor is caught with these substances, we want their parents to know about it right away,” State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune) and Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Freehold) said in a joint statement.
The measure, also sponsored by State Sens. Joe Lagana (D-Paramus) and Dawn Addiego (D-Evesham), follows a protracted fight over marijuana legalization that wore on for months after New Jersey voters overwhelmingly backed legalization at the polls.
Under bills Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law last month, anyone under the age of 21 found in possession of marijuana would be subject to a system of graduated warnings.