A3566

An Act concerning marijuana and cannabis and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) a. The Attorney General shall establish a Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The purpose of the division shall be to compile information, raise public awareness, and act as a centralized resource for law enforcement agencies concerning crimes and offenses related to marijuana and cannabis.

b. The division shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining a database of the following information:

(1) the number of arrests made annually for driving while intoxicated in violation of R.S.39:4-50 or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs in violation of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), in which alleged marijuana or cannabis possession or use was involved in the arrest;

(2) the number of arrests, dismissals of charges, convictions, and adjudications of delinquency made annually related to marijuana and cannabis; and

(3) information concerning any marijuana or cannabis seized pursuant to N.J.S.2C:64-1 et seq.

c. The division shall establish a public awareness campaign concerning marijuana and cannabis use and driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel. The public awareness campaign shall include, but not be limited to, information concerning the risk of motor vehicle and vessel crashes associated with driving under the influence of marijuana or cannabis and the risks of the combined use of marijuana or cannabis and alcohol.

d. The Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement annually shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature a report that includes, but need not be limited to, the information required to be compiled and maintained pursuant to subsection b. of this section and its activities related to the public awareness campaign required pursuant to subsection c. of this section. The report also shall include any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate by the division.

2. This act shall take effect on the first day of seventh month next following the date of enactment except the Attorney General may take any anticipatory action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

Pursuant to the bill, the purpose of the division would be to compile information, raise public awareness, and act as a centralized resource for law enforcement agencies concerning crimes and offenses related to marijuana and cannabis.

The bill provides that the division would be responsible for establishing and maintaining a database of the following information:

(1) the number of arrests made annually for driving while intoxicated or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs in which alleged marijuana or cannabis possession or use was involved in the arrest;

(2) the number of arrests, dismissals of charges, convictions, and adjudications of delinquency made annually related to marijuana and cannabis; and

(3) information concerning any marijuana or cannabis seized pursuant to the State’s forfeiture law.

The bill also requires the division to establish a public awareness campaign concerning marijuana and cannabis use and driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel. The public awareness campaign would be required to include, but not be limited to, information concerning the risk of motor vehicle and vessel crashes associated with driving under the influence of marijuana or cannabis and the risks of the combined use of marijuana or cannabis and alcohol.

Under the bill, the division would be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature, which includes the information required to be compiled and maintained in the database and the division’s activities related to the public awareness campaign. The report also would include any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate by the division.