The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney Michele Finizio,
Trenton NJ, Last week, the New Jersey state Assembly voted 49-24 with six abstentions to pass the bill (S21), and the Senate followed later Thursday, passing it 23-17.
The bill now goes to Governor Murphy, who is expected to sign the measure and have it become the law.
Continue reading How Important is the New Jersey Marijuana Law?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota have legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older, as voters in each state approved their respective ballot initiatives at the ballot box. South Dakota also passed a medical marijuana initiative and became the first state in American history to enact both policies on the same day. The Marijuana Policy Project was instrumental in the Montana and South Dakota campaigns.
Continue reading Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota Legalize Marijuana
Interested in growing your own marijuana? You need to know where to start. Here are 5 pro cannabis growing tips for beginners.
Thinking of becoming a cannabis farmer?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Nicholas Scutari, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following joint statement today announcing the introduction of legislation to seek voter approval of a constitutional amendment to legalize adult use marijuana in New Jersey:
“We are moving forward with a plan to seek voter approval to legalize adult use marijuana in New Jersey. We introduced legislation today to authorize a public referendum for a proposal that will lead to the creation of a system that allows adults to purchase and use marijuana for recreational purposes in a responsible way.
Continue reading NJ Legislator Will Seek Voter Approval to Legalize Marijuana
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, Mayor Bruce Packer commented on Facebook New Jersey’s effort to Legalize Marijuana , “I realize that this is quite a hot button issue in our state so if you are not aware, the NJ Senate and Assembly will be holding a joint hearing on Monday on Senate bill 2703, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act.
Any legislation will include an ‘opt out’ provision that would allow municipalities to opt out of the legal sale of marijuana. This is a complicated and ever changing issue and any questions or comment should be directed to our state legislators.As far as Glen Rock is concerned, it is premature for us to make any decisions with regard to opting out but we will have plenty of time to have that discussion once we know what happens at the state level.
The banning ordinances that were passed in many municipalities to date have no impact on the potential ‘opt out’ provision and are, effectively, meaningless from a legal perspective. We will all have to go through the same process to opt out if the state legislation is passed, irrespective of any ordinances that were passed prior to the new law.”
Updated June 19, 2017
Posted June 19, 2017
By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Although a topic in Trenton for three years, the campaign to legalize marijuana in New Jersey officially begins Monday when a Senate committee will discuss how the potentially billion-dollar industry should be regulated.
So what will it take for you to be able to legally buy recreational pot in New Jersey?
Gov. Chris Christie is vehemently opposed to legalizing marijuana and he has six months left on his final term. And the election for governor will matter for supporters of legalizing pot: Democratic candidate Phil Murphy supports legalization but Republican candidate Kim Guadagno does not.
Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), the bill’s sponsor, said he wants to begin the discussion now to build support among his colleagues in the legislature and across the state.
“Now is the time to begin shaping New Jersey’s recreational marijuana program,” Scutari said. “We will have a new governor next year and we should be prepared to move forward with a program that ends the prohibition on marijuana and that treats our residents fairly and humanely.”
Here’s what you need to know about the road to legal pot in New Jersey.
Here’s what the legal pot bill would do
Scutari’s bill, (S3195) based on visits to Colorado’s thriving recreational program would:
Decriminalize marijuana possession of up to 50 grams “immediately” and allow people who have been arrested for pot possession to expunge their records;
Establish a Division of Marijuana Enforcement in the state Attorney General’s Office which would create the rules used to govern the legal market of growers and sellers;
Allow people to possess up to one ounce of dried marijuana, 16 ounces of edible products infused with cannabis, 72 ounces in liquid form and seven grams of marijuana “concentrate;
Impose a sales tax on recreational sales beginning at 7 percent in the first year, climbing to 10 percent in the second year and jumping five percent more each year until it reaches 25 percent. Taxes on medical marijuana would be abolished.
Give the five existing medical marijuana dispensary nonprofit groups first crack at selling recreational pot.
Sen. Nick Scutari is about to try marijuana for the first time. He’s a lawyer, and he swears he’s never done it before. But as the author of a bill that would legalize marijuana sales in New Jersey, he feels a weighty responsibility to investigate. Tom Moran, Star-Ledger Read more
NJ lawmaker introducing bill to legalize marijuana
Adults in New Jersey would be able to buy up to an ounce of marijuana and grow their own plants all while the state takes its cut in taxes.
That’s the plan from a Democratic lawmaker who announced the details Monday.
Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, also said too many people were carrying around criminal convictions that carried permanent consequences because of petty marijuana laws.
The bill he introduced Monday would legalize marijuana possession and use for those who are at least 21 years old. If it does become lawn, and there is strong opposition to it from Governor Christie, New Jersey would be the first on the east coast and third state in the country to legalize the substance.
Individuals would be able to carry around less than an ounce of the substance, which would be distributed by legitimate businesses and taxed at a 7 percent rate. Taxes would go to road repairs, a drug enforcement fund and women’s health.
Christie has said he is against legalization. Currently, a limited number of strictly regulated medical marijuana distributors are operated in the state.
“It would bring marijuana out of the underground market,” Scutari said. “Just as alcohol has been for decades.” (Phillis/The Record)