cannabisnews.com: NJ Governor Signs Bills Legalizing Marijuana
function share_this(num) {
tit=encodeURIComponent('NJ Governor Signs Bills Legalizing Marijuana');
url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/29/thread29489.shtml');
site = new Array(5);
site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
return false;
}
NJ Governor Signs Bills Legalizing Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on February 22, 2021 at 13:55:10 PT
By Aris Folley
Source: Hill
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has signed into law legislation legalizing and regulating the use and possession of marijuana for adults 21 years of age and older. The legislation also decriminalizes marijuana and hashish possession, his office announced Monday. “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,” Murphy said in a statement.
“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,” he added.“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.”According to the Asbury Park Press, the move makes New Jersey the 13th state in the nation to legalize the drug for adult recreational use.New Jersey residents voted last November in favor of a constitutional amendment allowing for the possession, sale and use of cannabis of residents ages 21 and over, making state the first to pass marijuana legalization as a ballot measure.Murphy, who has served as governor of the Garden State since 2018, pushed for its legalization during his campaign. However, the issue was put on the 2020 general election ballot after it failed to garner enough support in the state legislature.In his announcement on Monday, Murphy called the state’s move to legalize the drug 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.”According to an analysis from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) more than 7 million people in the country were arrested for possession between 2001 and 2010.Despite Black and white people in the U.S. using marijuana at roughly the same rate at the time, according to the analysis, Black people were almost four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) applauded Murphy as well as the efforts of state legislators on the issue.“The failed War on Drugs has systematically targeted people of color and the poor, disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities and hurting families in New Jersey and across our nation,” Booker said, while also vowing to work with his colleagues in the Senate "to end the federal marijuana prohibition so we can finally begin healing the wounds of decades of injustice.”State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D), whom Murphy’s office billed as “leading advocate of legalizing adult-use marijuana” in the past 10 years, said the move will “usher in a new era of social justice by doing away with the failed policy that criminalized the use of marijuana.”“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,” he said.One of the bills signed by Murphy on Monday, A1897, includes reforms for criminal and civil penalties for marijuana and hashish offenses, his office said, and “provides remedies for people currently facing certain marijuana charges.”The legislation, his office also stated, will prevent “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.”It additionally provides a path for active sentences for certain offenses that were committed prior to the legislation’s implementation to be vacated.Another bill signed by Murphy on Monday, S3454, clarifies “penalties for marijuana and cannabis possession and consumption for individuals younger than 21 years old,” his office said.The move comes about a year after Murphy signed legislation into law that sealed records of low-level marijuana convictions once a sentence has been served.Carly Wolf, state policies manager for National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said on Monday that the legislation signed by Murphy was “long overdue.”“Now, going forward, tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding New Jerseyans will no longer be subject to arrest and a criminal record for their personal use of marijuana, and the commercial market will be regulated in a fair and inclusive manner,” Wolf added in a statement.“For the last fifty years, marijuana criminalization has been used as a tool to propel mass incarceration,” state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-N.J.) also said in a statement. “It has done immeasurable harm to Black and Brown communities around the country, and today we begin to right the ship here in New Jersey.”“I look forward to seeing the tangible impact this legislation has on our communities in the years to come,” she added.Source: Hill, The (US DC)Author: Aris FolleyPublished: February 22, 2021Copyright: 2021 The HillContact: editor thehill.comWebsite: http://www.hillnews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/iLDNFpluCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help
Comment #15 posted by The GCW on March 16, 2021 at 19:55:29 PT
Some Good News
The Data On Legalizing Weedhttps://www.npr.org/sections/money/2021/03/16/976265525/the-data-on-legalizing-weed- Legalization didn't seem to substantially affect crime rates
- Legalization seems to have little or no effect on traffic accidents and fatalities
- Legalization has barely affected the price of marijuana
- Legalization has created jobs. Lots of jobs
- Legalization is good for state budgets
- Legalization may be good for states' workers' comp programs
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 13, 2021 at 08:30:34 PT
The GCW
I understand what you mean.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #13 posted by The GCW on March 12, 2021 at 16:06:16 PT
FoM,
Read Your link this morning before heading out the door and a couple things have clung on My mind. (3)-The familiar: catholic cult leader convinces followers to support caging humans for using cannabis, ALL WHILE, the Christ, Who they are told they are following, requests LOVING ONE ANOTHER.THE CHRIST, GOD, WHO CREATED CANNABIS AND SAYS IT'S GOOD ON PAGE ONE OF THE GOOD BOOK, has no bearing to catholic cult leaders. that's an incredible illustration of leadership when you can convince people to crap (& I MEAN CRAP) on the ONE you are being lead to follow.Hmmm.I'm certain, You realize I'm not shouting at You, FoM, with those capitols...-Long time anger derived from My MAN.Those freaks have convinced masses of people to crap ON God and in turn, convince (many catholic's) to turn their back on THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.-catholics are screwed. -Like the pope is on satans payroll.-0-And then, there's the reality: The citizens over all do not support ending cannabis prohibition, yet they are the ones ending it.!.!.!Here in the free country, We support ending it but don't receive it!.!.!.-0-And another thing:Even though it's not legal U.S. WIDE, once it becomes LEGAL in Mexico, IT WILL BE LEGAL IN CANADA, MEXICO, WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.That's an uninterrupted North American safe haven.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by FoM on March 12, 2021 at 06:04:16 PT
Mexico’s Move May Pressure Biden
Mexico’s Move To Greenlight Marijuana May Pressure BidenURL: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/11/mexico-marijuana-legalization-biden-pressure-443800
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #11 posted by afterburner on March 06, 2021 at 15:59:00 PT
John Tyler
Social damage, social equity, social justice: you're right the right wing party and its rich supporters don't like such terms. Maybe they have never had bad experiences with unfair laws. Maybe their expensive lawyers have always helped them avoid legal consequences. Maybe they just feel entitled. Have a heart any rich blokes reading this.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 01, 2021 at 05:19:20 PT
Way To Go Virginia
I wish they understood how long people have been waiting for change and hurry it up. Why wait?
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #9 posted by gloovins on February 28, 2021 at 16:54:03 PT
Virginia...
has seen the light....https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/27/virginia-legalizes-marijuana-471840
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by The GCW on February 28, 2021 at 13:55:23 PT
John Tyler,
Just saw that news.Virginia Lawmakers Sign Off On Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuanahttps://www.npr.org/2021/02/28/972272178/virginia-lawmakers-sign-off-on-bill-legalizing-recreational-marijuana"""Lawmakers in Virginia have reached a deal to make the state the 16th in the nation and the first in the south to legalize recreational marijuana use. But the compromise bill is receiving blow back from some legalization advocates who say it falls short of racial justice aims... Cont.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by John Tyler on February 28, 2021 at 09:10:07 PT
Virginia news
Virginia joins 15 other states in legalizing marijuana
https://www.yahoo.com/news/virginia-joins-15-other-states-202122910.htmlBut not until 2024. So they got everyone’s hopes up, only to be dashed with the three year future date. It is like telling the kids they are all going to get a pony, but not for three years, and if they sneak out and do get a pony on their own beforehand, then, they will be punished. I hope they correct that to become legal on 7/1/2021 as was originally proposed. It is far from perfect, but it is a step in the right direction as they say. Unfortunately, cannabis is still treated like some toxic substance that needs to be controlled from seeds to the retail shelf and it limits exactly how much is legal to possess. However, it needs to be legalized now to stop the ongoing social damage. The bill contains robust social equity provisions, including prioritizing business licenses for individuals deemed to have been disproportionately impacted by criminal enforcement. The Republicans, of course, did not like the social equity part. They prefer letting the wealthy and well connected push everyone else away from the table and call it fair. You know, it is just business being business. What is wrong with that? There are going to be winners and losers in every competition. The poor must serve the strong. Blah, Blah, Blah.So, re-legalization is happening. It is a very thick stack of legislation (300 pages or so). It is a step in the right direction, and will need a lot of correction and fine tuning. Here is something that I think needs some consideration. Everyone that has been busted (that term seems antiquated, doesn’t it?) for cannabis will have that record or those records automatically expunged. Gone. Like it never happened.
Also, for everyone, from the day they were busted to the day they are released from legal supervision they are to be are to be compensated (with some amount of money to be determined) for their time in said legal supervision on a per diem basis, they will be reimbursed for their legal expenses (legal fees, fines, court costs, etc.), and they will receive compensation for any and all property confiscated, if they are deceased their legal heirs will be located, if possible, and the compensation will be divided among them. I know this is a lot, and will take a lot of research to get it done, but it is the right thing to do. Millions of people were “screwed over” by a racist system. We need to try to fix that and the only way we can do that is to try to find them and pay them some money from the taxes on the newly emerging legal cannabis market.What do you think? Except for possible expungement, it is not going to happen is it? Oh well, with every mistake we must surely be learning.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 26, 2021 at 05:01:50 PT
Afterburner
Wow. I am sure they don't help with global warming but they sure help keep people in cold climates warm. Our woodstove was made in Canada. It is 42 years old.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by afterburner on February 25, 2021 at 15:35:32 PT
Wood Stoves Are Great for Survival
Wood stoves are great. We had one up north, comfortable even at -40 Celsius. They used to be plentiful in Quebec, but the government started cracking down on them, claiming they were contributing to global warming.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 24, 2021 at 20:08:11 PT
Afterburner
Oh my it sure is. I am glad you car is fixed now. I contacted the Attorney General of Ohio about the problem not getting a fuel delivery in a timely manner and the order was prepaid. Thank goodness we have a wood stove or we would have run out of propane.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #3 posted by afterburner on February 24, 2021 at 18:18:45 PT
Step by Step
Been on second winter without car heat. Repair scheduled for Monday. Picked up car today. Engine trouble caused by electrical imbalance. Spark plugs and coil solved the problem without expensive engine replacement. Furnace motor was replaced earlier. Winter sure is tough without reliable heat.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 24, 2021 at 05:59:50 PT
Afterburner
I am so glad. We have been waiting for our propane delivery and it finally came. Now the weather is warming up! Have a great day!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by afterburner on February 23, 2021 at 20:41:34 PT
Huzzah! It's About Time
I spent the day paying bills and cleaning my car before taking it in for service. This article is like a breath of fresh air in a stressful day.
[ Post Comment ]
Post Comment