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Read more about the NJLP's objections below.
Here are the basics about the state's new laws:
- Adults 21 and over are allowed to consume cannabis on private property, although places like bars and restaurants can set their own rules. Similar to New Jersey's alcohol laws, it's still illegal to smoke or consume marijuana in a public place, such as a park or the beach.
- Underage use is prohibited, but results in a series of written warnings instead of fines and arrest.
- Cannabis has also been decriminalized in New Jersey. You can possess up to six ounces of marijuana or 17 grams of hashish without penalty.
- It's legal to buy up to an ounce of cannabis at a licensed dispensary (see below). New Jersey residents can't grow marijuana at home.
- People accused of illegally selling less than an ounce are issued a written warning for their first offense, and can be charged with a fourth-degree crime for each following incident – but they can't be arrested.
The new laws have gained enthusiastic support from many elected officials, including Murphy, who called them "a monumental step forward." But according to the NJLP, the state's new laws are full of problems.