Marijuana Is Officially
Legal in New Jersey .
On Monday, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation
legalizing marijuana use in New Jersey. .
It legalized the adult-use of
recreational marijuana and possession
of up to 6 ounces of cannabis. .
It also created a regulated marketplace
for the sale of marijuana and restructured
penalties for underage use. .
Murphy’s approval of legalization in the state
was initially derailed by the question of how
to handle minors in possession of marijuana. .
State lawmakers initially proposed more severe
penalties but Murphy resisted, as low-level offenses
disproportionally affect people of color in the state. .
A 2020 analysis of arrest statistics found that Black people in New Jersey were arrested nearly three-and-a-half times more often than white people for marijuana.
Maintaining a status quo that allows
tens of thousands, disproportionately
people of color, to be arrested in
New Jersey each year for low-level drug
offenses is unjust and indefensible, Governor Phil Murphy, via statement.
Lawmakers relented hours before
Murphy’s deadline to sign the legislation.
Underage marijuana use will be
treated similarly to underage alcohol use
through an escalating set of sanctions.
Penalties for underage use will begin
with a written warning and end with a
referral to substance abuse counseling.
Today, we’re taking a monumental
step forward to reduce racial disparities
in our criminal justice system, while
building a promising new industry and
standing on the right side of history, Governor Phil Murphy, via statement