Attorney General: Not so fast, put that weed away

State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal describes his Immigrant Trust Directive in Morristown, Feb. 5, 2019. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, speaking in Morristown, February 2019. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Yes, New Jersey voters on Tuesday approved a Constitutional amendment to legalize pot.

No, it’s not legal yet.

That was the word on Wednesday from state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, who cautioned citizens against going one toke over the line, and advised law enforcement to use discretion when dealing those who “may misinterpret or misunderstand the consequences of the Amendment and possess or use marijuana right away, assuming that it is lawful.”

“Yesterday, New Jerseyans approved an amendment to our State Constitution, legalizing regulated marijuana, referred to as ‘cannabis,’ for those 21 or older. The Amendment, which makes clear that it does not legalize unregulated marijuana, takes effect on Jan. 1, 2021, and requires the Legislature to enact a law establishing a regulatory scheme for legal cannabis,” Grewal said in a statement.

“All of the State’s criminal laws relating to marijuana continue to apply, until, among other things, the Legislature enacts a law creating that regulatory framework. It is important that residents accurately understand the current situation, so they do not inadvertently engage in criminal conduct relating to marijuana— conduct that may be legal in the future once the Legislature acts, but is not presently legal based on yesterday’s vote.

“While my office will soon issue additional guidance for law enforcement and prosecutors to address this situation, we have reminded them of the broad discretion they already possess in handling low-level marijuana offenses.”

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