NJ Gets Ball Rolling On Marijuana Legalization After Election

NEW JERSEY — It isn’t legal to smoke a joint just yet, but the ball is officially rolling on marijuana legalization in New Jersey after Tuesday’s election.

During a Friday news conference in Trenton, Gov. Phil Murphy announced his appointments to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), the agency that will help shape the future of legal weed in New Jersey.

Dianna Houenou, a senior policy advisor in Murphy’s office and former ACLU-NJ counsel, was appointed as chair of the CRC. Jeff Brown, who currently serves as assistant commissioner of health in charge of the state’s division of medicinal marijuana, was appointed as executive director.

The governor will also appoint Krista Nash as a member of the commission, upon the recommendation of Senate President Steve Sweeney.

As part of the general election, voters chose to legalize recreational cannabis in the Garden State. The amendment will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

But state lawmakers and the CRC will still need to hammer out the legal framework for some key issues, including criminal justice, how much marijuana people will be allowed to legally possess, and whether people will be allowed to grow cannabis at home.

• See related article: NJ Legalizes Recreational Marijuana In 2020 Election, AP Says

The CRC was created as part of the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Act, which greatly expanded the state’s medical marijuana program. It will take over the reins from the Department of Health, and oversee both the medical and recreational cannabis programs in New Jersey.

The commission will be made up of five members appointed by the governor, with one each recommended by the state Senate president and Assembly speaker.

• See related article: Murphy Signs 17 Bills Into Law, Including Huge Step For Medical Marijuana

During his news conference, Murphy said that he voted in favor of legalization himself, making him one of the many residents who “overwhelmingly” approved to end decades of cannabis prohibition.

According to Murphy, marijuana legalization in New Jersey passed with a greater margin than in any other state where it’s appeared on the ballot.

NJ LAWMAKERS: ‘TIME TO GET TO WORK’

Meanwhile, state lawmakers say they’re ready to do their own part to carry out the mandate of New Jersey’s voters, and they’re not going to forget about a major reason for legalization: social justice.

Earlier this week, the lawmakers who wrote the marijuana ballot question issued a joint statement about their next steps in the wake of Tuesday’s election.

According to Assembly members Annette Quijano, Jamel Holley, Britnee Timberlake and Angela McKnight:

“New Jersey law enforcement officers made over 24,000 arrests for marijuana possession in 2012, more than in the previous 20 years – approximately one every 22 minutes. African Americans are nearly three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis passion than white New Jerseyans, despite similar usage rates with white counterparts. Cannabis possession arrests constituted three out of five drug arrests also in 2012. The state spends approximately $127 million per year on cannabis possession enforcement costs.”

“We will listen to the will of the majority of New Jerseyans and take a common-sense and justice-focused approach to the regulation of cannabis,” Quijano said. “This is a new arena for New Jersey law and the beginning of a new era of economic opportunity and hope for a better future for thousands of New Jersey residents.”

According to Timberlake, the social justice and diversity portion in the coming legislation will be “imperative.”

McKnight agreed with her peer.

“Undoubtedly, this will be the largest regulatory undertaking the state has considered since the casino commission,” McKnight predicted.

“Remaining at status quo meant continued disparity in arrests for African Americans and teens for amounts now to be considered personal use,” McKnight added. “We are moving the state in a direction more compassionate for cannabis and in line with what is happening across the country with regard to legalization.”

Holley said the state has an unprecedented opportunity for residents to clean the slate with expungement provisions and for communities to grow their economic base with businesses.

“Voters have approved,” Holley said. “Now it’s time to get to work.”

MARIJUANA IN NEW JERSEY

Things are changing when it comes to cannabis and the Garden State. Catch up on some of our recent articles below.

NJ Legalizes Recreational Marijuana, Associated Press Says: Election Results

New Jersey voters were asked a big question: Should the state legalize weed? See unofficial results here.

NJ Marijuana Legalization: Can You Be Arrested For Smoking?

Can you be arrested for smoking a joint? When and where can you buy weed? Here are some important things to know after NJ's election.

Big Spending On Historic Vote For Legal Pot In NJ: 2020 Election

Ohio-based Scotts Miracle-Gro is among the donors putting up big bucks to influence voters in New Jersey, officials say.

NJ Marijuana Patients Can't Be Fired For Failing Drug Test, Supreme Court Rules

Bosses can't fire workers for being a medical marijuana patient, as long as they don't show up to work under the influence.

NJ Marijuana Arrests 'Soaring' As Legalization Debate Continues

Someone is arrested for marijuana possession in New Jersey every 15 minutes, the ACLU says.

NJ Bill Would Stop Thousands Of Low-Level Marijuana Arrests

Police make over 30,000 marijuana-related arrests in New Jersey every year, among the highest of any state in the nation, pot advocates say.

NJ Weed Industry May Be Hijacked By 'Big Players,' Group Warns

An obscure tax policy needs to be changed, or small businesses won't stand a chance in New Jersey's marijuana industry, a CPA group says.

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