Washington Township Takes Aim At New Marijuana Law

LONG VALLEY, NJ - The Washington Township Committee took action Monday night through a resolution calling on Governor Phil Murphy to repeal Senate Bill No. 3454.

In November 2020, a referendum on the general election ballot amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called "cannabis" was approved by a nearly 2-1 vote. On Feb. 22, Governor Phil Murphy signed three bills into law: A21 which makes "regulated cannabis" legal, A1897 which decriminalizes marijuana possession, and S3454 which outlines rules and penalties for those under 21 caught with illegal substances.

S3454 specifically prohibits law enforcement officers from notifying parents when a child is involved in a first offense of possessing alcohol, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis and requires only the issuance of a written warning.

The warning is for a first offense. For a second offense, notification would be given if the child is under 18. A third offense triggers a referral to drug education or treatment.

The Washington Township resolution is in line with similar statements made by Sheriff James Gannon, Senator Anthony M. Bucco, the Morris County Commissioners, the Morris County Chiefs of Police, and a growing list of others.

"This part of the legalizing recreational marijuana law is bad for our children, our schools, law enforcement and the Township Committee is calling on the Governor to repeal it," Mayor Matt Murello said.

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