The New Recreational Cannabis Legalization Law passed Feb 22, 2021, will go into effect on Aug 22, 2021. Each town and city can “opt out” if they act quickly. To do this, municipalities must enact a local town ordinance to ban the sale of cannabis within their borders. Failure to enact a local ordinance will mean that the New Jersey state law legalizing the sale of marijuana will be in effect for the next five years or until February 2026. (Medical marijuana is legally available by prescription.)

What does this mean to New Jersey residents and in particular to the Jewish community?

As in Colorado, legalization will increase the use of marijuana by our youth who are the most vulnerable to overuse and potential addiction. Because of many more adults in legal possession of marijuana in the home, many adolescents will have easier access to marijuana.

In 2019, prior to new legalization of cannabis, the drug of choice for 22% of youthful substance abusers was marijuana. Many of these marijuana users were adolescents. Heavy smoking, alcohol, opioids, marijuana and harder drugs are a growing problem in the Jewish world, so don’t think Jewish youth won’t be impacted.

The CDC warns that frequent marijuana use can lead to addiction (1 in 10 per CDC / 1 in 6 if under 18). Marijuana is the most frequently used drug, with over 37.6 million users in the U.S. But there are unintended consequences and costs associated with the increased use of marijuana, including substance abuse and the untold social costs of emergency hospitalization, treatment and rehab of habitual substance users. Sadly, some users are afflicted by impairment or even contemplate suicide.

Increased legal sales did not decrease the black market for marijuana in Colorado. Since illegal sales avoid tax, the illegal seller can undercut the legal seller by 15% to 20%. With the new law in place in New Jersey, many youthful offenders in possession of small amounts of marijuana will now be issued “warning notices” rather than being arrested and/or incarcerated. Police officers doing an unauthorized search of a youthful suspect can now face criminal charges.

So bottom line, is legalization of cannabis an economic boom that will benefit society or a BOONDOGGLE that will cost society very dearly in human terms?