{"id":1110,"date":"2012-05-22T07:50:26","date_gmt":"2012-05-22T07:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/?p=16026"},"modified":"2012-05-22T07:50:26","modified_gmt":"2012-05-22T07:50:26","slug":"new-jersey-lawmakers-consider-decriminalization-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/new-jersey-lawmakers-consider-decriminalization-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Lawmakers Consider Decriminalization Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/new-jersey-lawmakers-consider-decriminalization-efforts\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"276\" height=\"183\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/new-jersey1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"new jersey\" title=\"new jersey\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-16029\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/new-jersey-lawmakers-consider-decriminalization-efforts\/attachment\/new-jersey-3\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16029\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/new-jersey1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Yesterday, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/new-yorkers-reaffirm-support-for-medical-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\">marijuana.net reported <\/a>the developing story in New York pertaining to medical marijuana.\u00a0 It appeared that New York may in fact be following the lead of its neighboring states New Jersey and Connecticut.\u00a0 Now it appears, that New Jersey may be playing copycat with New York when it comes to marijuana decriminalization efforts.<\/p>\n<p>We have frequently mentioned all of the momentum in the northeast for marijuana reform.\u00a0 Fortunately, there have been constant and positive updates for advocates of reform.\u00a0 Yesterday several news outlets reported that some New Jersey lawmakers are proposing legislation that would decriminalize low level marijuana possession.\u00a0 Currently, 50 grams or less can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.\u00a0 The proposed measure would penalize marijuana possession similar to how New York does, with a civil citation ticket.\u00a0 This helps to ensure that a small level marijuana possession charge would not have an impact on the rest of a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p>The newly proposed law comes at a time where New Jersey, like every state, could benefit substantially from the savings decriminalization efforts provide.\u00a0 Jails are filled with those incarcerated for possessing a harmless plant as tax revenues can certainly be better used elsewhere.\u00a0 As the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hbo.com\/boardwalk-empire\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">popular HBO show depicts<\/a>, New Jersey knows firsthand the long term damage that prohibition can have.\u00a0 Alcohol prohibition launched a crime syndicate on the Atlantic City boardwalk.\u00a0 Now the potential for crime and large scale distribution of another banned substance is hurting New Jersey again.\u00a0 However, it is the youth, specifically in the minority community where the ultimate price will be paid. So many futures are ripped away by a frivolous charge for possessing a small amount of marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>Although the entire west coast has legalized medical marijuana, new developments in the northeast seem to be making the region emerge as a safe haven for patients.\u00a0 Northeast states also seem to be considering a change of heart when it comes to jailing its youth.\u00a0 Even New York City\u2019s controversial<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hbo.com\/boardwalk-empire\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"> \u201cstop and frisk\u201d program<\/a> has come under fire.\u00a0 With medical marijuana on the horizon and the possibility for decriminalization efforts, New Jersey is poised to become one of the most progressives areas for marijuana reform.\u00a0 However, no one is certain as to how<a href=\"http:\/\/www.state.nj.us\/governor\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Governor Christie<\/a> will react to a decriminalization bill as he has demonstrated his opposition to the states medical marijuana program previously.\u00a0 However, as residents of the garden state grow weary from watching their loved ones suffer, their children going to prison, and their hard earned tax dollars being wasted, \u00a0the Governor\u2019s hand may be forced.\u00a0 It may be time for New Jersey to utilize a new approach as they can ill afford another Boardwalk Empire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"276\" height=\"183\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/new-jersey1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"new jersey\" title=\"new jersey\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-16029\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/new-jersey-lawmakers-consider-decriminalization-efforts\/attachment\/new-jersey-3\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16029\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/new-jersey1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Yesterday, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/new-yorkers-reaffirm-support-for-medical-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\">marijuana.net reported <\/a>the developing story in New York pertaining to medical marijuana.\u00a0 It appeared that New York may in fact be following the lead of its neighboring states New Jersey and Connecticut.\u00a0 Now it appears, that New Jersey may be playing copycat with New York when it comes to marijuana decriminalization efforts.<\/p>\n<p>We have frequently mentioned all of the momentum in the northeast for marijuana reform.\u00a0 Fortunately, there have been constant and positive updates for advocates of reform.\u00a0 Yesterday several news outlets reported that some New Jersey lawmakers are proposing legislation that would decriminalize low level marijuana possession.\u00a0 Currently, 50 grams or less can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.\u00a0 The proposed measure would penalize marijuana possession similar to how New York does, with a civil citation ticket.\u00a0 This helps to ensure that a small level marijuana possession charge would not have an impact on the rest of a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p>The newly proposed law comes at a time where New Jersey, like every state, could benefit substantially from the savings decriminalization efforts provide.\u00a0 Jails are filled with those incarcerated for possessing a harmless plant as tax revenues can certainly be better used elsewhere.\u00a0 As the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hbo.com\/boardwalk-empire\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">popular HBO show depicts<\/a>, New Jersey knows firsthand the long term damage that prohibition can have.\u00a0 Alcohol prohibition launched a crime syndicate on the Atlantic City boardwalk.\u00a0 Now the potential for crime and large scale distribution of another banned substance is hurting New Jersey again.\u00a0 However, it is the youth, specifically in the minority community where the ultimate price will be paid. So many futures are ripped away by a frivolous charge for possessing a small amount of marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>Although the entire west coast has legalized medical marijuana, new developments in the northeast seem to be making the region emerge as a safe haven for patients.\u00a0 Northeast states also seem to be considering a change of heart when it comes to jailing its youth.\u00a0 Even New York City\u2019s controversial<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hbo.com\/boardwalk-empire\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"> \u201cstop and frisk\u201d program<\/a> has come under fire.\u00a0 With medical marijuana on the horizon and the possibility for decriminalization efforts, New Jersey is poised to become one of the most progressives areas for marijuana reform.\u00a0 However, no one is certain as to how<a href=\"http:\/\/www.state.nj.us\/governor\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Governor Christie<\/a> will react to a decriminalization bill as he has demonstrated his opposition to the states medical marijuana program previously.\u00a0 However, as residents of the garden state grow weary from watching their loved ones suffer, their children going to prison, and their hard earned tax dollars being wasted, \u00a0the Governor\u2019s hand may be forced.\u00a0 It may be time for New Jersey to utilize a new approach as they can ill afford another Boardwalk Empire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[569,52,506,119,56,9,69,50,51,70,1,3,61],"tags":[3142,2632,3080,2697,2636,2648,2630,2631,5,6],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1110"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1110\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}