TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Declaring “we came to our senses,” New Jersey lawmakers Thursday passed legislation requiring parents be notified if their minor child is caught unlawfully buying or possessing marijuana.
The bill now goes to Gov. Phil Murphy, about a month after he signed legislation explicitly prohibiting parental notification.
The measure was fast tracked, lawmakers said, soon after voters began to complain about the provision in a new law setting up the recreational marijuana marketplace.
The so-called clean-up bill passed with no opposition, and without an explanation during the floor debate for why the law specifically barred parental notification in the first place.
Murphy, a Democrat, has said he supports the idea of parental notification.
“I’m pleased we came to our senses today,” Republican Assembly member Aura Dunn said during a brief floor speech.
The measure didn’t go far enough in “cleaning up” the recreational marijuana legislation for some.
That’s because the February law continues to hold that an officer could be guilty of the crime of depriving someone of their civil rights if law enforcement questions a minor stemming from the discovery of marijuana, alcohol or hashish.
“The potential for criminal liability in any interaction will prevent officers from intervening in situations where underage criminal activity occurs, allowing underage marijuana and alcohol use to run rampant in our schools, in our parks and on our beaches,” said the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police in a statement.
Under the law Murphy signed in February, a first offense would have resulted in a written warning. The law made it clear that the person’s parent or guardian was not to be notified. A second offense was a written warning along with information on drug treatment services.
Police were to provide a copy of the second warning to those under 18, along with a notice about the first offense as well. The third offense carried a written warning again along with a referral to drug treatment services. Parents and guardians would have been notified of a third warning.
The action Thursday changes the rules so parents will be notified after a first offense.
Voters approved of recreational marijuana for those 21 and older by a 2-to-1 margin in a ballot measure in November. It took more than three months for lawmakers and the governor to agree on legislation setting up the recreational marketplace.
Lawmakers acknowledged at the time that they might have to revisit the newly signed law with “cleanup” legislation.
The bill would also apply in cases where a minor was found in possession of alcohol.
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