TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal Nov. 25 issued additional guidance to prosecutors concerning the prosecution of low-level marijuana cases, supplementing his Aug. 29, 2018, and Nov. 4, 2020, guidance.
According to a release, Grewal directed all New Jersey municipal, county, and state prosecutors to adjourn, until at least Jan. 25, 2021, any juvenile or adult case solely involving the following marijuana possession-related offenses:
- possession of marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-10(a)(3);
- possession of marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-10(a)(4);
- being under the influence of marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-10(c);
- failure to make lawful disposition of marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-10(d);
- use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia under N.J.S. 2C:36-2 involving only marijuana or hashish;
- possession of a controlled dangerous substance while operating a motor vehicle in violation of N.J.S. 39:4-49.1 involving only marijuana or hashish; and
- any disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense subject to conditional discharge pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:36A-1 involving only marijuana or hashish.
For cases involving the above-enumerated charges, as well as other offenses, the attorney general directed prosecutors to use their discretion to either postpone the case in its entirety or seek dismissal, without prejudice, of the marijuana possession-related charge(s) and proceed with prosecution of the remaining charges. Notably, the guidance does not affect the prosecution of cases charging distribution of marijuana or possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
“Fairness demands that we suspend prosecution of marijuana possession-related cases while we await direction from the Legislature on the parameters for decriminalization of marijuana and legalization of regulated adult-use cannabis,” stated Grewal. “It simply does not make sense or serve justice to proceed with prosecutions on charges that may be foreclosed soon through legislative action.”
Previously, the attorney general Nov. 4 issued guidance to law enforcement emphasizing that they have broad discretion in handling low-level marijuana offenses, and encouraging them to exercise that discretion in light of anticipated legislative action that may decriminalize marijuana.
Grewal reiterated that more comprehensive guidance, including direction on handling previously adjudicated matters, will follow when the Legislature provides details of the framework for marijuana decriminalization and the legalization of adult-use cannabis.
Guidance for marijuana possession cases pending in municipal and superior courts: click here.
Guidance regarding municipal prosecutors’ discretion in prosecuting marijuana and other criminal offenses, Aug. 29, 2018: click here.
Interim Guidance on the constitutional amendment legalizing cannabis, Nov. 4, 2020: click here.
