Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2014
Source: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)
Copyright: 2014 Newark Morning Ledger Co
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/starledger/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424
Author: Susan K Livio

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA ENDORSED BY NJ MUNICIPAL PROSECUTORS

[image caption]
Jobs seekers line up around the block to attend CannaSearch,
Colorado's first cannabis job fair, on March 13, 2014 in Denver. The
N.J. State Municipal Prosecutors Association has endorsed a marijuana
legalization bill in New Jersey that is modeled after Colorado. (Getty
Images)

TRENTON - A bill calling for legalizing the possession of up to an
ounce marijuana has been endorsed by the New Jersey State Municipal
Prosecutors Association, which believes the money spent trying these
cases is "silly," the association's president said.

The vote by the association's board of trustees was called the first
of its kind in the nation by the leader of an international group of
law enforcement officials seeking the legalization of pot.

The board voted 7-2 with one abstention to support the legislation,
which was introduced by one of its members, Linden prosecutor and
state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), the association's President
Jon-Henry Barr said in an interview Monday.

"This is something a lot of prosecutors have been thinking but never
talked about," said Barr, the municipal prosecutor in Kenilworth and
Clark. "I have spent hours and hours litigating the issue of
suppression motions because usually the police will retrieve marijuana
without a search warrant, and at the end of the day, it is all over a
joint. It's just collectively brought me and so many prosecutors to
the point where this is silly."

However, some prosecutors were so troubled by the vote they quit the
association, Barr said. He declined to identify them.

The association's endorsement drew praise from Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition, or LEAP, an international group of police and corrections
officers, prosecutors, and judges that seeks the repeal of marijuana
possession laws.

"Things are changing and I think it's wonderful. Finally prosecutors
are making sense," LEAP's co-founder Jack Cole said, a retired
undercover narcotics officer from the State Police. "Think of how this
is going to alleviate their job and free up their time."

Usually law enforcement groups oppose legalization bills, he added.
"This is the first (endorsement) I have ever heard."

Scutari said he did not ask the prosecutors' association for the
endorsement, but is pleased to get it. "As the primary prosecutors of
these offenders, we have come to the realization this is a humongous
waste of public resources," Scutari said.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of
marijuana and grow as many as six plants, but public use would be
prohibited. The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control would be
expanded to regulate the new taxable industry, according to the bill.
The revenue would go to fund transportation projects, women's health
programs and drug prevention and enforcement efforts.

Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto the bill if the Legislature
passes it because he thinks marijuana serves as a gateway to harder
drug use.

Barr said he doesn't think the association's endorsement will change
the governor's mind.

"I don't think it matters anyway. There are a growing number of
Republicans who support legalization, maybe enough votes to override a
veto, or maybe a new governor will be open minded to it," he said.
"Look at the Gallup polls - most Americans are for legalization. In
time it will be legal, it's only a matter of when." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D