In December 2020, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a notice directing prosecutors to suspend activity on all cases involving marijuana possession for personal use. Well, directives such as this will no longer be issued now that marijuana is finally legal in the state of New Jersey.
Read more: N.J. Attorney General Orders Prosecutors to Stop Processing Cases for Small Amounts of Marijuana
After a failed legislative push back in 2019, NJ residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of legalizing marijuana during the General Election in November of 2020. And on Monday, February 22nd, Governor Phil Murphy did just that. But now that marijuana is finally legal in New Jersey, what does it mean for those who were previously convicted for possession? Continue reading to find out, including when it will be available for purchase and how much you can legally possess.
Is Marijuana Available for Purchase?
As of right now, no. While Governor Murphy went on record stating that he thinks NJ residents will be able to visit a dispensary in about six months, industry experts are not as optimistic. As it stands, there are about 8 million people in New Jersey who use marijuana for medicinal purposes. While operators make plans to extend marijuana for recreational use, they want to ensure that there is enough supply for those who depend on it to aid their medical conditions first.
How Much Marijuana Can I Legally Possess?
Under this new law, adults aged 21 and older will legally be allowed to possess up to six ounces of marijuana. While you will still be barred from smoking in public streets and on public transportation, you will be able to smoke anywhere that smoking cigarettes is permitted.
You could still be facing legal ramifications if you are in possession of over six ounces of marijuana.
What Will Happen to My Criminal Record?
If you have any marijuana-related offenses against you such as possession and distribution of up to six ounces or possession of drug paraphernalia with intended use to ingest marijuana, your charges will be dropped. This includes any outstanding fines and if you are on probation or under supervision as the result of one of these offenses. There is something in the works to vacate criminal records for these offenses, however, nothing has come out as of yet.
If you have questions about whether or not you qualify for an expungement for an offense not listed here, don’t hesitate to contact our law firm for a consultation. We’re here to help.
Contact an Experienced Newark Criminal Defense Attorney About Your Drug Charges in New Jersey
Have you been charged with a drug crime in New Jersey? A criminal conviction can carry with it heavy fines, jail time, and driver’s license suspension. That is why it is imperative that you speak with a qualified criminal defense lawyer about your case. The lawyers at Hercules Law Group, LLC represent clients charged with use, possession, production, distribution, and related drug offenses in Haddonfield, Toms River, New Brunswick, Princeton, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 372-5922 or fill out our confidential online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 76 E Euclid Ave Suite 101, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, as well as offices located in Hamilton Township, Vineland, Freehold, Toms River, Neptune City, New Brunswick, Bridgewater, Princeton, Hoboken, Morristown, Jersey City, Flemington, Montclair, Hackensack, and New York, NY.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
