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Slumped Kitchen LLC, a Marlton, Burlington County-based cannabis delivery service, could be in violation of New Jersey's consumer protection laws for allegedly "gifting" free marijuana products to customers.
The company was one of four businesses across the state that was issued a cease-and-desist letter earlier this week by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs to stop offering free marijuana "gifts" to customers who purchased snacks, baked goods or other items.
New Jersey’s top law enforcement official has released sweeping new guidelines for police in the wake of the state’s decriminalization of marijuana.
Under the guidelines released by state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal Tuesday, police are no longer allowed to detain or arrest people for possessing or distributing small amounts of marijuana. Being under the influence of marijuana or possessing related paraphernalia are no longer crimes for people 21 and over.
New Jersey police have arrested more than 6,000 people for low-level cannabis possession despite voters approving legalization reforms last November, according to a state judiciary report outlined by NJ.com. In January, police arrested 2,378 people for possessing less than 50 grams of cannabis, an increase from the 2,125 people arrested for possession in November and 1,703 arrested in December.
Gov. Phil Murphy reiterated his reasoning as to why the legal status of marijuana remains in limbo Wednesday afternoon. He did not offer any new information.
“There are two principles that have guided us on this,” Murphy said. “No. 1: The last thing any of us wants is our kids getting tied up in the criminal justice system, especially kids of color. Secondly, the voters voted to legalize adult-use marijuana. It said it right on the referendum: It’s 21 or up.
“Getting both those principles respected is not an easy process.”
That’s according to a recent analysis of crime report data in Newark by Justin Leiby, an associate professor of accountancy at the University of Illinois.
The Newark Police Department made a total of 57 marijuana-related arrests in the first 20 days of this year, compared to 63 arrests made for the same period in 2020. But more notably, that trend is driven by a spike in arrests for simple possession alone, which grew from 39 last year to 48 this year—a 23 percent increase.
When will weed be legal?
We don’t know.
The New Jersey State Senate passed legislation to decriminalize the possession of up to six ounces of marijuana on Monday. However, a controversial statute regarding legal penalties for the possession of psychedelic mushrooms has stalled the bill in the State Assembly.
This bill is not the end point. Instead, it is simply an interim measure until another bill for full legalization of the drug is ironed out.
The Court stated that the medical benefits of marijuana weren’t recognized in 1971 when New Jersey first adopted the federal government’s classification of the drug. More recent scientific research suggests that marijuana has “potential therapeutic value” for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation, among other medicinal benefits.
Notice of the Division’s public conferences was published today in the New Jersey Register.
