New Jersey officially legalizes cannabis

New Jersey's Democratic Governor Phil Murphy yesterday signed into law the legalization of cannabis for adults, which will establish a commercial cannabis market in the state. Phil Murphy's signing of the three bills comes more than three months after voters approved a legalization initiative in the November general election.

«[Our] flawed and indefensible cannabis laws ,which permanently tainted the criminal records of many residents and short-circuited their futures, disproportionately wounded communities of color and failed to uphold a sense of justice at every level, social and otherwise, are no more,» he declared at a press conference.

New Jersey's broken & indefensible marijuana laws are no more.

Today, I signed historic legislation to:
✅Legalize adult-use cannabis
✅Decriminalize marijuana possession in small amounts
✅Limit the use of previous marijuana convictions
✅Create a regulated cannabis marketplace pic.twitter.com/Y2pCKSgcn5

- Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 22, 2021

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«In their place, there are now laws that will usher in a new, equity-based industry that will reinvest dollars in communities, laws that promote both public health by promoting safe cannabis products and public safety by allowing law enforcement to focus their resources on serious crime.», the governor added.

The governor declined to detail why he took his time signing the bills, but said he wanted to make sure young people, especially people of color, didn't «get tangled up in our criminal justice system.».

The bill that passed on Monday was a key element in securing the governor's support, according to legislators.

Three bills signed

Phil Murphy signed three separate pieces of legislation on Monday. The first, A1897, removes all criminal penalties for possession of up to 6 ounces of cannabis (168g) and up to 170g of hashish by adults 21 and older. The measure also decriminalizes the transfer of up to one ounce (28g) of cannabis between adults and reduces penalties for the distribution of larger quantities of cannabis.

A second law, Al’21 / S2, regulates the commercial production and sale of cannabis, allowing adults aged 21 and over to purchase up to one ounce (28g) of cannabis in licensed dispensaries. The bill also enacts a sales tax on cannabis purchases, with 70% of the funds raised dedicated to investment in low-income communities.

The third measure signed by Murphy, A5342, enacts a series of written warnings to be issued to people under 21 caught in possession of cannabis, rather than a requirement for civil or criminal penalties. Young people with 3 or more offences for underage possession of cannabis could be sentenced to community service. The bill also includes provisions to prevent law enforcement agencies from searching young people solely on the pretext of smelling cannabis.

No self-cultivation

The legalization of cannabis in New Jersey does not currently include allowing home cultivation of cannabis, even for people who are ill.

«We're going to start with the laws I just signed. We're going to leave it at that,» Murphy replied to a question about self-cultivation. «I appreciate the people who have challenged us on this, but we're going to continue with what we have.»