NJ Bill to DECRIMINALIZE MJ possesion (NOT Medical)

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

While our governor may be a complete anti-pot zealot, it seems our elected representatives have a more forward thinking approach toward marijuana, both medical and in general.

recently "Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) of the 15th District of the New Jersey State Legislature, and Michael Patrick Carroll (R) of the 25th District, are the Primary Sponsors for Assembly Bill 4252,the first of its kind, to decriminalize aspects of the Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. " This bill has not yet been posted online, but the title of the bill is to "Decriminalize possesion of 15 grams or less" of pot. This is an incredible step foward from a state that currently has some pretty tough laws for pot. I personally know people who have been arrested for a half a fucking joint. This causes chaos in the lives of otherwise law abiding citizens. The current laws have a punishment of up to $1,000 fine and 6 months in jail for a first offense, whether you have a half a gram or two ounces, in addition to loss of driver's liscenses.

This is a law that needs to be changed, and once again, our assembly members are trying to lead the way. These people are on our side! we must take advantage of this, and hit these listed people with calls to thanks them for actually trying to change this fucked up state. Numbers are listed below for all current sponsors.

http://www.normlnj.org/archives/1095

Assembly Bill 4252 to Reform State Marijuana Laws Gains Support

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) of the 15th District of the New Jersey State Legislature, and Michael Patrick Carroll (R) of the 25th District, are the Primary Sponsors for Assembly Bill 4252, the first of its kind, to decriminalize aspects of the Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. Activists from NORML NJ and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) were in contact with Assemblyman Gusciora’s office regarding the bill. The bill has not been posted online but will be posted soon. The bill will deal with the decriminalization of possession of marijuana of 15 grams or less.

NORML NJ is proud to announce its coalition building with SSDP to form the campaign to support the bill, Sensible New Jersey. We urge supporters of decriminalization to call the list of initial sponsors below to thank them and show your support.

Reed Gusciora (D) – (609) 292-0500 (Trenton)

Michael Patrick Carroll (R) – (973) 539-8113 (Morristown)

Charlotte Vandervalk (R) – (201) 666-0881 (Westwood)

Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D) – (201) 541-1118 (Englewood) & (201) 928-0100 (Teaneck)

Albert Coutinho (D) – (973) 589-0713 (Newark)

Cleopatra Tucker (D) – (973) 926-4320 (Newark)

Ralph Caputo (D) – (973) 450-0484 (Belleville)

Kevin Ryan (D) – (973) 667-4431 (Nutley)

Declan J. O’Scanlon Jr. (R) – (732) 933-1591 (Red Bank)

Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D) – (908) 757-1677 (South Plainfield)

Linda Stender (D) – (908) 668-1900 (Scotch Plains)

Pamela R. Lampitt (D) – (856) 435-1247 (Voorhees)

Gordon Johnson (D) – (201) 836-4924 (Teaneck)

Mila M. Jasey (D) – (973) 762-1886 (South Orange)

Brian Rumpf (R) – (609) 693-6700 (Forked River)

Craig J. Coughlin (D) – (732) 855-7441 (Woodbridge)

Caroline Casagrande (R) – (732) 866-1695 (Freehold)

Spread the word!

when the bill is posted, it will be listed here--->http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp

Currently that page just lists the bills sponsors, people who I am glad are standing up for us.

Now is the time people, pick up a phone and get closer to not worrying about that eight in your pocket making you a "criminal".!

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

http://www.normlnj.org/archives/1107

New Jersey Coalition Forms to Support Bi-Partisan Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML-NJ) have started a new coalition to support decriminalizing marijuana: Sensible New Jersey.

A bi-partisan marijuana decriminalization bill, A4252, was introduced on June 29, 2011 in Trenton. Sponsored by Assemblymen Reed Gusciora (D) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R) the measure would remove criminal penalties for adults who posses less than 15 grams of marijuana.

Gusciora said today, “Right now, an astronomical proportion of marijuana possession charges are for under 15 grams. This is a drain on our already strained police force and our over-burdened court systems.”

New Jersey performs more arrests for marijuana than for all other drugs combined. In 2009 (the most recent data available) 22, 439 people were arrested for possessing less than 50 grams of cannabis. A conservative estimate of cost of arresting and prosecuting these marijuana offenses is about $30 million dollars annually.

Rachel Cotrino, an attorney and board member at NORML NJ said, “In addition to imprisonment, offenders of the current law face loss of driving privileges from six months to two years. This unreasonably punitive measure causes many, otherwise law abiding citizens, to lose their jobs because they cannot get to work. Offenders also face eviction from their leased premises or loss of public housing. It is time to decriminalize the individual user and remove the current penalties that stifle our community and economy.”

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) has joined the effort. Jack Cole, a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police and board chairman for LEAP, said, “As a former undercover narcotics detective in New Jersey, I now know that all the time and resources I spent arresting people for marijuana offenses over the course of my career didn’t accomplish anything good. In addition to being a waste of money that should have been spent solving and preventing violent crimes, these arrests in many cases ruined otherwise productive people’s lives. The marijuana decriminalization bill is a great first step to undoing some of the damage wrought by the failed ‘war on drugs.’”

Fourteen states, including New York (1979), Massachusetts (2008) and Connecticut (2011) have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults.

“We are ready to begin this conversation in the legislature and will continue to lay the foundation for this groundbreaking effort. This is about cutting costs and ending the failed practice of criminalizing otherwise productive members of society for possessing a substance that is less dangerous than alcohol,” stated Victor Pinho, a Sensible New Jersey coordinator and NJ Chapter Coordinator for SSDP.

CONTACT: Victor Pinho – newjersey@ssdp.org and Evan Nison – evan@normlnj.org
Sensible New Jersey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sensible-New-Jersey

And here is some support from LEAP( Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)
http://copssaylegalize.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-jersey-narc-supports-new-bi.html

New Jersey Narc Supports New Bipartisan Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
Posted by LEAP
Assembly Bill Would Let Cops Focus on Violent Crimes

TRENTON, NJ -- A bill to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana was introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly with bipartisan support on Wednesday. The bill, which is being endorsed by a group of police and judges who once waged the "war on drugs," comes less than a month after Connecticut legislators passed similar legislation decriminalizing marijuana.

Jack Cole, a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police and board chairman for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, said, "As a former undercover narcotics detective in New Jersey, I now know that all the time and resources I spent arresting people for marijuana offenses over the course of my career didn't accomplish anything good. In addition to being a waste of money that should have been spent solving and preventing violent crimes, these arrests in many cases ruined otherwise productive people's lives. The marijuana decriminalization bill is a great first step to undoing some of the damage wrought by the failed 'war on drugs.'"

The New Jersey bill, A4252, would remove criminal penalties for adults who posses less than 15 grams of marijuana. It is sponsored by Assemblymen Reed Gusciora (D) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R) with 15 additional co-sponsors.

Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron estimates that New Jersey currently spends more than $183 million every year enforcing its marijuana prohibition laws. In 2009, 22,439 people in New Jersey were arrested for possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, federal agents and others who want to legalize and regulate drugs after fighting on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and learning firsthand that prohibition only serves to worsen addiction and violence. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com.

6/20/2011 - NJ Assemblyman Reed Gusciora is expected to introduce a bill this week to decriminalize the possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana by adults. A look at the Uniform Crime Report from the NJ State Police reveals some striking statistics for marijuana arrests. The 2009 report contains the most recent published data available, although preliminary data on 2010 points to an increase for cannabis violations.

In 2009 the Garden State arrested 26, 254 people for marijuana. Eight-five percent of the arrests (22, 439) were for possession of less than 50 grams. Currently, adults caught with anything from a joint to two-ounces are treated the same way; with a custodial arrest and a criminal prosecution.

In 2009 New Jersey performed more arrests for marijuana than for all other drugs combined. Fifty-six percent of all drug possession arrests were for marijuana.

The same year saw 3,815 arrests for Sale/Manufacture of marijuana. This is compared to 8,128 arrests for sale/manufacture of cocaine or opium products in 2009. Yet fewer NJ residents were arrested in possession of cocaine or opiates (14,609) than for marijuana (22,439).

The conclusion that could be drawn that enforcement of cannabis prohibition laws in New Jersey is focused on the individual user rather than those selling. This is different compared to other drugs.

 

[spadedNfaded]

AWESOME! and this is just days after our governor finally caved in and broke down the stone wall stopping MMJ from moving foward.
Im really hoping this makes it!

- SubN

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

AWESOME! and this is just days after our governor finally caved in and broke down the stone wall stopping MMJ from moving foward.
Im really hoping this makes it!

- SubN

it seems that in the garden state "times they are a changin".

Things are finally to come into a better perspective for us living here, at least weed-wise. However, one thing we should learn from the past is that complacency has never moved this issue foward, people need to be getting involved and calling their representatives and showing their support. That is the only way legislators will know how we feel about the issue.

so everybody living in or near NJ should do a favor and get on the phone. I thank you all in advance.

If you do not see YOUR LOCAL elected officials on this sponsor list, you should call them and urge them to support it. Simply go to this page--->http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp and look up your town to find your local official. Let's get as many people as we can behind this to make sure it passes.

 

[187020]

should i be leaving NY and sliding over to joysey?? peace in the east homies

 

[MIway]

It really would be nice to stop jailing people for this shit. And to let everyone have the option to grow a some plants for themselves, in the privacy of their own homes.

Despite the Fed AG's statements, seems a lot of States & Municipalities are still moving forward. Good for all of us!!!

 

[Guest 18340]

Well I'll be damned! This made my day

 

[AGBeer]

Hells yeah! Any progress is progress. I hope to see this for you all out there!

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

should i be leaving NY and sliding over to joysey?? peace in the east homies

we'd love to have ya, just bring some sour!

 

[SOTF420]

 

[budlover123]

... I personally know people who have been arrested for a half a fucking joint...

The Jersey shore got hit with really bad weather last year, causing damage and losing tourism money. The fact that you can get arrested for smoking a joint isn't helping that.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

the link from the first post is bunked, so here's a new one->http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp

here is a list of all marijuana related bills this year---->http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByKeyword.asp

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

here is the actual legislation, first I have seen of it

http://www.scribd.com/doc/61817660/New-Jersey-Marijuana-Decriminalization-Bill-A4252

its a pain in the ass to read cuz it's sideways, but the basic jist of it is, first time possesion of 15 grams or less will be a $150 fine, second offense $200, third and past offenses $500.

possesion of paraphenalia for less tha 15 grams is no longer a criminal violation, instead a $100 civil fine.
it would also eliminate the requirement that you pay a $50 fine and lose you license for 2 years if you are caught operating a motor vehicle while in possession of 15 grams or less.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Decriminalize pot say half of NJ voters, according to poll
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Last updated: Wednesday November 30, 2011, 1:03 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Associated Press
Print | E-mail

NEW BRUNSWICK — A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Wednesday finds slightly more than half of New Jersey voters surveyed said people should not be penalized for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Young marijuana plants are shown in this Sept. 15, 2009 file photo.
AP FILE PHOTO
Young marijuana plants are shown in this Sept. 15, 2009 file photo.

Nearly three in five voters questioned said the penalties should be reduced.

The support for reduced or eliminated penalties for pot possession was the highest since the poll first started asking the questions in 1972.

Support — both for reducing and eliminating penalties — was roughly the same across all income categories and among blacks and whites. One major divide remained: Sixty percent of Democrats support eliminating penalties and 64 percent supported reducing them. Among Republicans, both figures were lower. Forty-four percent wanted punishment reduced and 42 percent want it eliminated.

Support for allowing marijuana for medical purposes was even higher. About six of every seven voters favored it.

The state has a law to allow medicinal cannabis, but so far no dispensaries are open. The state has been gearing up for the industry to launch. Over the past several days, it has announced that rules for the dispensaries will be finalized on Dec. 19 and named an official to head up their regulation.

But the six nonprofit organizations chosen to grow and sell the medical marijuana have been struggling getting local zoning approval. A major factor seems to be that while residents support the concept of medical marijuana, they do not want the enterprises in their own communities.

The telephone survey of 753 randomly selected registered voters was conducted Nov. 9-12 and has a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/Decriminalize_pot_say_half_of_NJ_voters_according_to_poll.html


Not much action on this yet, but it has moved on to the

11/10/2011 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee

We just allowed selling syringes at pharmacies, so maybe this has a pretty decent chance.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Cool News video put together, mostly in supposrt of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su0Llhef6R4

Due Process - "Decriminalize Pot? NJ Ponders"