On February 22, 2021, Governor Philip Murphy signed into law a trio of bills that collectively legalize adult use of recreational cannabis in the State of New Jersey. The legalization of cannabis, more commonly referred to as marijuana, will have a significant impact on workplaces and institutions of higher education across the state of New Jersey. Employers should contact legal counsel for guidance on revising their workplace policies to comply with the new law and ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
As NJ.com explained, the bill that Murphy signed only a couple weeks ago “removed all criminal penalties and fines for such offenses, replacing them with escalating warnings.” “Under that, the first warning will go to the juvenile only, the second to a parent and the third as a referral to drug education or treatment programs,” the website reported.
Top-ranking Democrats in the Senate are working to draft a bill on homegrown marijuana, but the legislation likely won’t allow New Jerseyans to grow their own cannabis, the New Jersey Globe has learned.
“The first topic was really the significance of the penalties for home growing right now. It’s like drug manufacturing, a serious felony charge,” said State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden). “You do a lot of years if you get caught growing your own marijuana right now, so there’s been just some initial discussions if maybe those penalties are too severe.”
It appears that Democrats realize that not allowing police to give written notice to parents the first time they catch their kids smoking weed or drinking alcohol is a potent issue Republicans could use against them this fall.
A Democratic-backed bill to clarify that cops can inform parents was introduced last week and appears to be on the fast track. It’s a clean-up bill of the last marijuana clean-up bill.
On Monday, for the first time, the governor said he supports making the changes.
"I spoke to the Senate President (Steve Sweeney) on Saturday and, without getting too much into the weeds, no pun intended, on the notification question, I personally think that's a step in the right direction," said Murphy when asked by a reporter.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is by far the most dominant union involved in the cannabis industry.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy even appointed a UFCW official to the state’s new Cannabis Regulatory Commission, underscoring the union’s role in the state’s soon-to-launch adult-use marijuana program.
The UFCW started a formal effort in 2013 called Cannabis Workers Rising to organize employees in the marijuana and hemp industries, which offer greater growth opportunities versus mainstream businesses such as grocery chains and retailers.
New Jersey officially became the 13th state to legalize marijuana as Gov. Phil Murphy last week signed three bills that put an exclamation point on the will of Garden State voters. Twenty other states, including Pennsylvania, have legalized medical marijuana use. The federal government still considers any marijuana use as a crime.
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 glaring absence of a member of a social justice organization on New Jersey’s newly established Cannabis Regulatory Commission is a troubling oversight that should be remedied, Senator Mike Testa said today.
The commission is charged with determining who can legally grow and sell marijuana in New Jersey.
Known as the NJWeedman, Edward Forchion is upfront about his underground weed business. He opened a storefront on E State Street in Trenton where he sells everything from flowers, cannabis concentrates and edibles. With the state still months away from actually opening up its marijuana marketplace, NJWeedman's Joint is one of the only places defying the government's rollout.
"I say I'm like the people's champ right now...the Robinhood reefer," Forchion said.