Despite an outspoken anti-marijuana governor, New Jersians are pushing forward with efforts to legalize marijuana. On Monday, Nov. 16, the New Jersey Legislature will hold its first hearing on legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana for adults. “This is a big step forward on our path to victory,” wrote the team at New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform (NJUMR) in an email sent Tuesday to constituents.
“Whether you stand for civil rights, support public health, want to strengthen public safety, or hope to generate much-needed tax revenue to reinvest in New Jersey communities, it’s time to make your voice heard. New Jersey is on the road to legalization — but we won’t get there without you,” the email continued.
NJUMR encourages New Jersey residents to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee you support the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey.
A Rutgers-Eagleton poll conducted in partnership with the Drug Policy Alliance in June found that 58 percent of New Jersey residents support legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana like alcohol for adults 21 and over.
According to the Drug Policy Alliance, “New Jersey wastes more than $125 million a year arresting people for marijuana possession.” And tens of thousands of people are arrested for marijuana possession in the state each year. In 2010, more than 22,000 individuals were arrested for marijuana possession in New Jersey, the Drug Policy Alliance reports.
At least one New Jersey legislator has been a pioneer on marijuana legalization and policy reform, at least in regards to medical marijuana. In March, Senator Corey Booker (D) introduced with Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) legislation in the Senate (S.683, titled the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States – CARERS Act) to legalize marijuana for medical use (at the federal level). It is the most comprehensive medical marijuana bill ever introduced in Congress, according to a report in Cannabis Business Times.
Twenty states have decriminalized marijuana —making possession a civil vs. criminal offense, punishable with a fine—and four states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana use among adults. Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon have legalized marijuana and regulated it for sale and taxation. At least five other states (Maine, Massachusetts, Arizona, California and Nevada) are expected to have successful initiatives to get marijuana-legalization efforts on the 2016 election ballot (Nevada’s has already qualified for the ballot).
Twenty-three states, including New Jersey, plus the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana programs.
