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    NewSolutions MarijuanaReformExecSummary PDF

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    webmaster@drugpolicy.org
    The document advocates for legalizing marijuana in New Jersey. It argues that current marijuana laws are costly, unfair, and ineffective, arresting over 22,000 people per year and costing over $125 million. Legalizing marijuana would generate tax revenue, reduce racial disparities in arrests, and free up resources to support communities. Most New Jersey residents support legalizing marijuana, and other states that have legalized it have seen drops in arrests without negative consequences while gaining economic benefits. Legalizing marijuana like alcohol would create a safe, controlled system and benefit all New Jersey residents.

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    NewSolutions MarijuanaReformExecSummary PDF

    Uploaded by

    webmaster@drugpolicy.org
    155 views1 page
    The document advocates for legalizing marijuana in New Jersey. It argues that current marijuana laws are costly, unfair, and ineffective, arresting over 22,000 people per year and costing over $125 million. Legalizing marijuana would generate tax revenue, reduce racial disparities in arrests, and free up resources to support communities. Most New Jersey residents support legalizing marijuana, and other states that have legalized it have seen drops in arrests without negative consequences while gaining economic benefits. Legalizing marijuana like alcohol would create a safe, controlled system and benefit all New Jersey residents.

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    NewSolutions-MarijuanaReformExecSummary.pdf

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    The document advocates for legalizing marijuana in New Jersey. It argues that current marijuana laws are costly, unfair, and ineffective, arresting over 22,000 people per year and costing over $125 million. Legalizing marijuana would generate tax revenue, reduce racial disparities in arrests, and free up resources to support communities. Most New Jersey residents support legalizing marijuana, and other states that have legalized it have seen drops in arrests without negative consequences while gaining economic benefits. Legalizing marijuana like alcohol would create a safe, controlled system and benefit all New Jersey residents.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    155 views1 page

    NewSolutions MarijuanaReformExecSummary PDF

    Uploaded by

    webmaster@drugpolicy.org
    The document advocates for legalizing marijuana in New Jersey. It argues that current marijuana laws are costly, unfair, and ineffective, arresting over 22,000 people per year and costing over $125 million. Legalizing marijuana would generate tax revenue, reduce racial disparities in arrests, and free up resources to support communities. Most New Jersey residents support legalizing marijuana, and other states that have legalized it have seen drops in arrests without negative consequences while gaining economic benefits. Legalizing marijuana like alcohol would create a safe, controlled system and benefit all New Jersey residents.

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    Marijuana Reform

    Executive Summary
    New Solutions Campaign
    Promoting Fair & Effective Criminal Justice Strengthening Families & Communities

    Marijuana prohibition is costly, unfair and ineffective.


    New Jersey arrests more than 22,000 people a year for marijuana possession at a cost of more
    than $125 million to New Jersey taxpayers. This absurd and wasteful policy criminalizes
    otherwise law-abiding people and wastes resources that would be better spent on projects that
    support our families and communities.

    A conviction for marijuana possession can have severe long-term consequences. The resulting
    criminal record subjects a person to a system of legal discrimination that can last a lifetime and
    can make it difficult or impossible to secure employment, housing, student loans, or even a
    drivers license. Even without a conviction, the consequences of an arrest can include untold
    stigma and humiliation, the financial burden of a criminal court proceeding and lost hours at
    work or school.

    Marijuana laws in New Jersey have a disproportionate impact on communities of color. African
    Americans are three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites even
    though both use marijuana at the same rates. Anecdotal evidence suggests similar disparities
    for Latinos.

    The solution is to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol for adults.

    Eight states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon,


    Washington) and the District of Columbia have now legalized marijuana. These states have
    created new jobs and generated millions of dollars in tax revenues without negative
    consequences. These states have also seen a large drop in arrests for marijuana and thus
    fewer people labeled as criminals simply because they use marijuana. And legalizing, regulating
    and controlling marijuana is a more effective way to keep marijuana away from youth.

    New Jersey should enact common sense and popular reform to create a responsible,
    safe and controlled system for marijuana.

    A majority of New Jerseyans support legalization. New Jersey should pass fair and equitable
    legislation to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol for adults. This would make
    marijuana laws consistent with the values and opinions of New Jersey residents and build on
    smart and common sense reforms across the country.

    Legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol for adults will create a safe and
    controlled system with social and economic benefits for all New Jerseyans.

    Legalizing marijuana will create new jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue to fund
    projects that help all New Jersey residents. Otherwise law-abiding people will no longer be
    labeled as criminals and racial disparities and harms will be reduced. Resources that are
    currently wasted on marijuana prohibition will be freed to use for projects that support our
    families and communities. The time has come for New Jersey to legalize marijuana. It is the fair
    and responsible thing to do.

    Sponsored by
    Drug Policy Alliance | 16 West Front Street, Suite 101A, Trenton, NJ 08608
    nj@drugpolicy.org | 609.396.8613 voice | 609.396.9478 fax | @DrugPolicy_NJ

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