As NJ moves closer to legalizing weed, activists call on Murphy to offer pardons
New Jersey Legalizing Weed
Several groups who have advocated for legal marijuana and racial justice reforms have sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy that calls for pardons for marijuana convictions and lays out a timeline under which they could take place in 2021.
“New Jersey still, to this day, has very harsh penalties for cannabis related offenses,” the letter released Monday states. “We have people in prison, jail, on parole, in drug court. And being supervised as a result of conditional discharge due solely to cannabis-related offenses.”
It was signed by several groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey lawmakers, NORML, NAACP. New Jersey State Conference, New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform and Doctors for Cannabis Regulation.
The letter lays out a suggested timeline for the governor to issue pardons to various groups. Beginning with those currently serving prison sentences for offenses, including possession and other marijuana offenses.
New Jersey lawmakers passed two bills last week: One lays out the rules and regulations for a marijuana industry and the other decriminalizes possession of up to six ounces of marijuana.
These bills need Murphy’s signature to become law. It’s not yet clear when he will take action on them.
Even if those two bills become law, they do not address the crimes of many who have been convicted. The same goes for an expungement reform bill Murphy signed last December, which seeks to clear records for possession of up to five pounds of marijuana.