TRENTON NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Monday, Feb. 22 signed historic adult-use cannabis reform bills into law, legalizing and regulating cannabis use and possession for adults 21 years and older. The The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act decriminalizes marijuana and hashish possession. The governor also signed a bill clarifying marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for individuals younger than 21 years old.
Our current marijuana prohibition laws have failed every test of social justice, which is why for years I've strongly supported the legalization of adult-use cannabis. 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, Murphy said. This November, New Jerseyans voted overwhelmingly in support of creating a well-regulated adult-use cannabis market. Although this process has taken longer than anticipated, I believe it is ending in the right place and will ultimately serve as a national model."
Murphy said the law will bring equity and economic opportunity to communities and establish minimum safety standards, allowing police to focus on real public safety matters.
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. I'd like to thank the Legislature, advocates, faith leaders, and community leaders for their dedicated work and partnership on this critical issue, he said.
This is a historic reform that will have a real-life impact on social justice, law enforcement and the state's economy, NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney said. We can now move forward to correct social injustices at the same time that marijuana is made legal for adults. This will launch a new cannabis industry with the potential to create jobs and generate economic activity at a time when it is desperately needed. The decriminalization law is the most sweeping measure of its kind in the country and is a groundbreaking step in our continued effort to make criminal justice reforms that are fairer and more effective. This will help reduce the racial disparities and social inequities that have long plagued our criminal justice system.
Sen. Nicholas Scutari, the leading advocate of legalizing adult-use marijuana in New Jersey over the past decade, said the legislation will usher in a "new era of social justice."
Too many people have been arrested, incarcerated and left with criminal records that disrupt and even destroy their lives. We don't want the criminal justice system to be an unfair barrier to success. By implementing a regulated system that allows people age 21 and over to purchase limited amounts of marijuana for personal use we will bring marijuana out of the underground market where it can be controlled, regulated and taxed, just as alcohol has been for decades. New Jersey will now be a leader in legalizing a once stigmatized drug in ways that will help the communities hurt the most by the War on Drugs and realize the economic benefits of the new adult-use cannabis market.
Under A21, the CRC will develop regulations to govern the medical and adult-use industries and oversee the applications for licensing of cannabis businesses. The legislation further provides for the Legislature to reinvest cannabis revenues in designated impact zones. It also directs the CRC to promote diversity and inclusion in business ownership, and contains critical employment protections for people who engage in lawful behavior with respect to cannabis.
A1897 reforms criminal and civil penalties for marijuana and hashish offenses, as well as provides remedies for people currently facing certain marijuana charges. The bill prevents unlawful low-level distribution and possession offenses from being used in pretrial release, probation, and parole decisions and provides certain protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation. The bill also creates a pathway to vacate active sentences for certain offenses committed before enactment of the enabling legislation.
The governor today also signed S3454 into law, clarifying penalties for marijuana and cannabis possession and consumption for individuals younger than 21 years old. The legislation corrects inconsistencies in A21 and A1897 concerning marijuana and cannabis penalties for those underage.
