The legalization of recreational marijuana use in New Jersey is also expected to make good on a decades-long promise to address issues of racial and social justice. That’s where the focus should remain, according to the ACLU of New Jersey.
The new “cleanup bill”, introduced by Sens. Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Nick Scutari, may have found a compromise acceptable to a majority of lawmakers as well as the governor. It would establish a $50 fine for possession of up to one ounce for those aged between 18 and 20 and a $100 fine for larger amounts, while those under 18 would be given a warning that would escalate upon repeat offenses rather than immediately imposing a civil penalty.
The deadline is Thursday for Gov. Phil Murphy to either sign or veto a bill to legalize marijuana. He has been holding out so far, hoping for another bill to come through that clarifies penalties for underage possession.
“We want to see fewer penalties for children, we want to make sure that kids aren’t unnecessarily intertwined with the criminal legal system,” said Amol Sinha, the executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey.
The coalition advocating for passage of a referendum to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, has tapped a top state political operative to manage their campaign.
Axel Owen, a former Democratic State Committee political director, will lead NJ CAN 2020, an alliance of organizations forging a joint campaign for a yes vote in the November general election.
The pitch to legalize adult use cannabis in New Jersey includes amends to people who’ve been unfairly or disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs. Cannabis legalization is coming to New Jersey, it’s a matter of when at this point.
But what about all those people still getting locked us for something that’s legal in other states? And what happens to the criminal records of low-level, non-violent pot offenders once cannabis becomes a multi-billion dollar business here in New Jersey?