Pubdate: Tue, 24 Nov 2015
Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826

MARIJUANA POSSESSION ARRESTS ON RISE IN NJ

TRENTON (AP) - Nearly double the number of people were arrested for 
marijuana possession in a year in New Jersey compared to 20 years 
ago, according to the latest figures available.

The change runs counter to the nationwide trend as public acceptance 
of marijuana use grows in the United States, leading generally to a 
decline in arrests.

Udi Ofer, executive director of New Jersey' ACLU chapter, said he's 
especially concerned by the numbers because studies show 
African-Americans are charged with simple possession three times as 
much as whites despite both groups having the same usage rates for the drug.

New Jersey's 24,765 arrests for possession of small amounts of 
marijuana in 2013 was the state's highest number in 20 years, nearly 
doubling the amount in 1993 when the population was 12 percent less, 
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Simple possession is considered 
less than 50 grams, or about 13/4 ounces.

As legislators debate whether to legalize and regulate the drug, Gov. 
Chris Christie has vowed to veto any bill that would legalize 
recreational marijuana use.

The spike in possession arrests can be attributed to Christie's 
"incredibly harsh tone on marijuana use," Ofer said.

"Christie is the most vocal marijuana prohibitionist in America right 
now ... His rhetoric obviously hasn't been lost on the police 
captains of New Jersey," said Chris Goldstein, board member of 
PhillyNORML, a Philadelphia-based marijuana advocacy group.

A spokesman for Christie called any link between the governor's 
stance on marijuana and the number of arrests in New Jersey a 
"harebrained theory."

Bills seeking to legalize or decriminalize the drug are pending in 
the New Jersey state legislature.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom