Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Use

On November 3, 2020, New Jersey voters approved Ballot Question #1, legalizing recreational marijuana use for individuals over the age of 21.

The approval of the ballot question made the possession and recreational use of marijuana a constitutional right for individuals 21 years of age and older in New Jersey. This constitutional right went into effect on January 1, 2021.

On Monday, February 22, 2021, Governor Murphy signed a series of bills that will:

• Establish the Regulatory system for the production and sale of Adult use Marijuana;
• Decriminalize the possession of marijuana; and 
• Address the penalities for underage use/possession of marijuana.

The New Jersey Catholic Conference Public Policy Committee has prepared the following resource to assist Catholics with understanding the complexities and the potential negative health effects related to the use of recreational marijuana:

Working Paper to Inform Catholic Organizations On Possible Impacts of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana in New Jersey

External Resources:

Marijuana and Public Health -- U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention