2.The Legislature finds and declares that: a. It is the intent of the people of New Jersey to adopt a new approach to our marijuana policies by controlling and legalizing a form of marijuana, to be referred to as cannabis, in a similar fashion to the regulation of alcohol for adults; b. It is the intent of the people of New Jersey that the provisions of this act will prevent the sale or distribution of cannabis to persons under 21 years of age; c. This act is designed to eliminate the problems caused by the unregulated manufacturing, distribution, and use of illegal marijuana within New Jersey; d. This act will divert funds from marijuana sales from going to illegal enterprises, gangs, and cartels; e. Black New Jerseyans are nearly three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana poss
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2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. It is the intent of the people of New Jersey to adopt a new approach to our marijuana policies by controlling and legalizing a form of marijuana, to be referred to as cannabis, in a similar fashion to the regulation of alcohol for adults; b. It is the intent of the people of New Jersey that the provisions of this act will prevent the sale or distribution of cannabis to persons under 21 years of age; c. This act is designed to eliminate the problems caused by the unregulated manufacturing, distribution, and use of illegal marijuana within New Jersey; d. This act will divert funds from marijuana sales from going to illegal enterprises, gangs, and cartels; e. Black New Jerseyans are nearly three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white New Jerseyans, despite similar usage rates; f. New Jersey spends approximately $127 million per year on marijuana possession enforcement costs; g. Controlling and legalizing cannabis for adults in a similar fashion to alcohol will free up precious resources to allow our criminal justice system to focus on serious criminal activities and public safety issues; h. Controlling and legalizing cannabis for adults in a similar fashion to alcohol will strike a blow at the illegal enterprises that profit from New Jersey's current, unregulated illegal marijuana market; i. New Jersey must strengthen its support for evidence-based, drug use prevention programs that work to educate New Jerseyans, particularly young New Jerseyans, about the harms of substance use disorder; j. New Jersey must enhance State-supported programming that provides appropriate, evidence-based treatment for those who suffer from the illness of substance use disorder; k. Controlling and regulating the manufacturing, distribution, and sales of cannabis will strengthen our ability to keep it along with illegal marijuana away from minors; l. A controlled system of cannabis manufacturing, distribution, and sales must be designed in a way that enhances public health and minimizes harm to New Jersey communities and families; m. The legalized cannabis marketplace in New Jersey must be regulated so as to prevent persons younger than 21 years of age from accessing or purchasing cannabis; n. A marijuana arrest in New Jersey can have a debilitating impact on a person's future, including consequences for one's job prospects, housing access, financial health, familial integrity, immigration status, and educational opportunities; and o. New Jersey cannot afford to sacrifice public safety and individuals' civil rights by continuing its ineffective and wasteful past marijuana enforcement policies. L.2021, c.16, s.2; amended 2023, c.177, s.54.