By Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone
There is a very important
topic I would like to focus on this week.
As we all know, the majority of New Jersey residents last
fall voted in favor to legalize marijuana for use by adults at least 21 years
of age. There is no question, nor debate, on the outcome of the ballot
question.
State Senator Declan O’Scanlon issued the following statement upon the passage of the Democrats legislation to regulate and tax marijuana sales in New Jersey:
“To be blunt, I had no choice but to vote no,” said O’Scanlon. “Over-taxation, over-regulation and over-complication. Trenton’s typical prescription to … just about every issue. This cannabis bill is a classic example. The public voted for a relatively simple policy – to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The referendum included specific, tax-limiting language, which is critical to the success of the policy.
Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued additional guidance to prosecutors concerning the prosecution of low-level marijuana cases, supplementing his August 29, 2018 and November 4, 2020 guidance.
Attorney General Grewal directed all New Jersey municipal, county, and state prosecutors to adjourn, until at least January 25, 2021, any juvenile or adult case solely involving the following marijuana possession-related offenses:possession of marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-10(a)(3);possession of marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-10(a)(4);being under… Read the rest of this entry »
Arturo Munoz, 25, of Elmhurst, NY was arrested for possession of marijuana in the Middletown Police Department parking lot on Saturday.
Munoz apparently didn’t get the memo that de Blasio doesn’t run Middletown. After parking next to a police vehicle Munoz told Patrolman Daniel Flannigan, who noted the strong odor of raw unburnt marijuana, that the drug was in his vehicle.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden issued a statement today condemning the Trenton Democrats’ marijuana legislation as “poorly written policy by the Democratic majority” “that is aimed at grabbing tax dollars without any regard on the impacts on our local communities!”
Sheriff Golden, also the Monmouth County Republican Chairman, issued his statement in a email to Monmouth Republican elected officials and party leaders.
Golden said the legislation would allow more pots shops than coffee shops in New Jersey and does not provide for licensing of retail establishments or background checks of retailers by law enforcement officers, as liquor licenses require. He cited published reports that indicate that legal marijuana in other jurisdictions have increased minority arrests and incarceration and increased motor vehicle collisions and fatalities.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden issued a sharp criticism of Jersey City’s decision to unilaterally decriminalize marijuana possession last night via twitter:
Dangerous 4 Law Enforcement-At what point do cities/towns arbitrarily NOT enforce other state laws? Controlling what the PDs can/cannot enforce is a dangerous course action. If you disagree with the law-change it, Stop using LE to pursue agenda. @MichaelAronNJTV@NJSPBA@njfophttps://t.co/Od0lW9s4z7
A strong majority of New Jersey residents, 68%, favor reforming the state’s law concerning marijuana use, but most, 53%, do not favor making the recreational use and sale of the drug legal, according to an FDU Public Mind Poll released this morning.
27% of the 810 NJ adults surveyed in the poll think NJ’s pot laws should stay as-is. 26% think weed use should be decriminalized. 42% favor full legalization. Read the rest of this entry »
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks passionately against the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. (Apologies to County Purchasing Director Helen Fiore)
Freehold- The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey at their regular meeting on Thursday, January 25. Read the rest of this entry »
TRENTON — A state lawmaker introduced legislation on Monday that would legalize marijuana in New Jersey, saying he was laying the groundwork to pass a new law almost as soon as Gov. Chris Christie leaves office. Sen. Nicholas Scutari’s bill would make New Jersey one of a small but growing number of states where marijuana is… Read the rest of this entry »
TRENTON — A state lawmaker on Monday is scheduled to unveil legislation that would legalize, regulate, and tax recreational marijuana in New Jersey. State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) will formally announce the Democratic-sponsored measure noon at Monday at a news conference at the Statehouse in Trenton. Medical marijuana is already legal in the state. But if… Read the rest of this entry »
