NJ Marijuana Cases Postponed

 Excerpts
New Jersey will postpone marijuana prosecutions for 30 days while the state develops guidelines to downgrade or dismiss some offenses, according to a memo from State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

The order, issued to 21 county prosecutors, follows a thwarted effort by Jersey City, the state's second-most populated municipality, to decriminalize recreational use of the drug, Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement that cited Grewal's directive. The policy will take effect even as New Jersey lawmakers have yet to present a legalization bill to Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat who campaigned on joining the growing national movement to end the prohibition on recreational marijuana use.

 Starting today, courts must suspend all marijuana prosecutions while Grewal, prosecutors and other law-enforcement officials develop guidelines on how they should be handled, according to Fulop. Pending cases will be postponed until after Sept. 4.

Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat from West Deptford, told reporters yesterday in Trenton that he intends to send a legalization bill to Murphy's desk by September.

Entire article at
https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/n-j-temporarily-halts-marijuana-cases-in-court/article_a2ba1c2d-ec12-5bc6-8c5e-8d3eb19d2e57.html

Can I still get arrested for marijuana?

For those New Jerseyans thinking they’re now free to blaze up a joint on their front lawn with impunity, some sobering news: The attorney general’s directive applies to prosecutors, not law enforcement.
In short, yes, you can still be arrested.

I have a marijuana-related court date in August. Do I still have to show up?

Lauchaire said all defendants with marijuana-related charges must still show up in court. The attorney general has asked prosecutors to adjourn the cases, but the decision is up to the judge, she said.

Does this affect possession or distribution?

Since marijuana is still a controlled substance, most distribution cases would be heard in Superior Court, which is not affected by this call for adjournment.
This order from the attorney general will likely only affect low-level possession charges, most of which are heard at the municipal level.

 

  How long will this policy be in effect?

In his letter to prosecutors, Grewal asked that municipal cases be delayed until at least Sept. 4 but said it could be later. The attorney general said this will give his office time to provide further guidance on the matter, but it could serve another purpose.
State lawmakers are expected to take up marijuana legalization again this summer, and it's possible that a law could be passed by early September. Should a legalization bill pass, it would tell prosecutors and police how to handle low-level marijuana crimes going forward.
Based on legalization bills already introduced, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana would be legal
. What that would mean for people arrested for marijuana possession prior to a bill passing remains unclear.

Entire article athttps://www.nj.com/marijuana/2018/07/can_you_still_be_arrested_for_weed_in_nj_we_answer.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=njdotcom_sf&utm_content=nj_twitter_njdotcom