New NJ AG Promises Smoke Shop Weed Crackdown During Hearing – Heady NJ
The NJ Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on the new Attorney General of NJ, Jennifer Davenport. They were all eager for a weed crackdown on shady convenience stores and smoke shops.
Governor Mikie Sherrill appointed her.
During her confirmation hearing, State Senator Joe Lagana (D-38-Bergen) asked Davenport about underground cannabis and intoxicating hemp enforcement in convenience stores.
“There’s no real directive on how they should handle it,” he noted.
Lagana noted the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) has police enforcement power, and many towns don’t have ordinances specifically on smoke shops. He said children have consumed intoxicating hemp products that look like candy, like Skittles.
“They might not know what they’re doing is illegal. They might not care. And they may just be running illegal drug establishments…,” Lagana explained.
“…They’re everywhere. Some are feet apart from each other,” he noted about smoke shop weed.
Davenport said the legal cannabis market can only thrive if the underground legacy market is hurt.
“When you go into a store, you assume the things on those shelves are regulated and lawful… Any kid can walk into a store and think this is OK…,” she alleged.
Davenport said education is needed. She noted the importance of local enforcement dealing with bad actors.
“We’ve been given tools … to help put together guidance…,” Davenport explained. “We’ll work together with our colleagues, with the Chief’s Association, with the County Prosecutors…”
She said they would share intelligence with the State Police, too.
“I’m in lockstep when it comes to us making sure we get the right tools….,” Davenport declared.
NJ Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-27-Essex) suggested that adult-use cannabis tax revenue pay to educate police to fight underground legacy market operators.
“Justice can still be served,” she argued about a weed crackdown.
Ruiz complained about the smell of cannabis in public areas.
It’s not legal in Jersey to smoke in public, unfortunately. But they haven’t been throwing the book at people for doing it either.
“I totally agree, Majority Leader,” Davenport said. “…Others trying to profit off wrongdoing are often a couple steps ahead.”
She was eager to lead the weed crackdown.
Ruiz wanted a specific smoke shop legislation passed and enforced.
“There isn’t like a data central bank of what is being sold at a smoke shop…. This market has completely flourished…,” she lamented. “We need …. a depository so we know this is not a convenience store….”
“…I look forward to working on that…,” Davenport replied.
“When it comes to smoke shops… we’ve had several that sell illegal marijuana openly,” NJ Judiciary Chair and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (D-33-Hudson) noted.
He said the legal market hasn’t hurt the underground market, which he said was bad.
“Most police are afraid because of the liability on them to do anything on marijuana…,” Stack noted. “…The police don’t even know what they can and can’t do.”
(Heady NJ is a great source of knowledge to share with city and state officials if you believe federal marijuana prohibition is BS.)
“I really hope that this is one of the top issues we address,” Stack added. “I don’t want to get into legalization… was never a big fan…. And I think we need to give the police the tools to enforce it.”
He didn’t want people consuming in public or driving.
Senator Kristen Corrado (R-40- Passaic) claimed former NJ Governor Phil Murphy disrespected and discouraged police.
Davenport noted she worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Corrado criticized former Attorney General Matt Platkin, who was pro-cannabis, and called him unresponsive.
Davenport said she would be a partner with the legislature and placated her.
Platkin fought political bosses whom some legislators seem to take orders from.
Others are bosses themselves.
A lot of them are also pro-cannabis dispensary. Or they have retreated to fighting minor issues since cannabis legalization is an idea whose time has come.
Stack didn’t like the idea of first responders and truck drivers consuming cannabis. He wanted to work on that.
Daveport said she’d be happy to do so as well.
Former Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop fought the right of police to consume cannabis and failed.
NJ Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo (D-36-Bergen) was also eager to disrespect workers smoking weed since he runs a construction company.
“It’s problematic,” Sarlo claimed.
“I am confident this new Attorney General can come in and clean up how we regulate marijuana,” he declared.
Sarlo noted he’s hated it for years.
Davenport later noted they shouldn’t arrest kids early since they will have fewer options besides crime.
The NJ Judiciary Committee passed her confirmation unanimously.
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