New Jersey to set up marijuana market

Legislation to set up a recreational marijuana marketplace, decriminalise cannabis and loosen penalties for underage possession of the drug and alcohol was signed into law on Monday by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, more than three months after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to legalise adult use of the drug.

The Democratic Party-led Assembly and Senate passed the last-minute measure on Monday to ease penalties on underage possession of both alcohol and marijuana as a way to secure Murphy’s signature on legislation they had sent him in December.

“Our current marijuana prohibition laws have failed every test of social justice, which is why for years I’ve strongly supported the legalisation of adult-use cannabis,” the Democratic governor said. “Maintaining a status quo that allows tens of thousands, disproportionately people of colour, to be arrested in New Jersey each year for low-level drug offences is unjust and indefensible.”

He said the new marketplace will take shape over the coming months.

Murphy faced a deadline to act on the December measures. He had earlier said he backed the legislation, but delayed signing them for more than two months amid concerns that young people of colour could still face arrests, running afoul of his goal of undoing the effects of the war on drugs in black communities.

The governor had declined to detail why he delayed, but said he wants to be sure that young people, particularly people of colour, don’t get “tangled up in our criminal justice system”.

The bill that passed on Monday amounted to a linchpin to getting the governor’s support, according to lawmakers.

The legislation makes underage possession of alcohol and marijuana subject to a written warning that escalates to include parental notification and a referral to community services upon subsequent violations.

Currently, underage drinking is punishable by a fine of up to US$1,000 and up to six months in jail.

Part of the legislation makes it so towns will no longer have the authority to enact ordinances with civil penalties or fines concerning underage possession or consumption violations on private property, among other measures.

It also increases the liability for suppliers of cannabis items to underage people by making a third or subsequent violation a petty disorderly person’s offence.

The impasse over marijuana stems from a November ballot question amending the constitution to permit recreational cannabis for those 21 and over that voters approved by a 2-to-1 margin.

The delay has sparked widespread frustration.

“This process has been a débâcle from the beginning. The voters did their job,” Democratic Senator Paul Sarlo said. He had opposed marijuana legalisation, though was supportive of decriminalisation. He voted to pass the bill on Monday because he said voters want lawmakers to move on and focus on COVID-19 relief.

Some Republicans seemed aghast at reducing penalties.

“There’s no consequence,” GOP Senator Bob Singer said. “We’re now saying, if you’re caught with it underage, it’s a free pass.”

Democratic bill sponsor Senator Nicholas Scutari, also a municipal prosecutor, disputed that the current penalties work and said the new law will keep young people – particularly black youngsters – out of the criminal justice system.

The marketplace legalisation bill applies the state’s 6.625 per cent sales tax, with 70 per cent of the proceeds going to areas disproportionately affected by marijuana-related arrests. Black residents were likelier – up to three times as much – to face marijuana charges than white residents.

Towns can levy a tax of up to 2.0 per cent under the measure.

Also under the bill, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission will be able to levy an excise tax, the amount of which will depend on the cost per ounce of cannabis. There will be four levels of tax under the bill, so if cannabis is US$350 or more, the tax per ounce will be US$10. That rises to US$60 per ounce if the retail price of the product is less than US$250.

The number of licences for cultivators will be set at 37 for two years. The state Senate was pushing for no limits, but the Assembly wanted the caps.

The decriminalisation measure is necessary because the state’s laws make possession a crime, despite the voter-approved amendment, according to lawmakers. The measure passed with broad bipartisan support.

AP