Every NJ House Democrat Votes To Decriminalize Marijuana

NEW JERSEY — Each of New Jersey’s Democratic House members voted in favor of a proposed federal law that would decriminalize marijuana on Friday. The state’s two Republican congress members voted no on the bill.

If it passes the U.S. Senate and gets a presidential signature, H.R.3617 would remove cannabis from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, and eliminate criminal penalties for a person who manufactures, distributes or possesses marijuana. It would also expunge the records of people convicted of federal cannabis offenses, and require resentencing for thousands of federal prisoners.

The bill also makes other sweeping civil rights changes, including:

• Imposes an excise tax on cannabis products produced in or imported into the United States and an occupational tax on cannabis production facilities and export warehouses
• Establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the War on Drugs
• Requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees
• Makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers
• Prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions
• Prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction)

According to a report from the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would increase revenues, on net, by about $8.1 billion over the 2022-2031 period by creating an occupational tax on cannabis producers and warehouse operators, and by increasing compliance with business income taxes.

NEW JERSEY: HOW THEY VOTED

Friday’s vote was split largely along party lines; the bill passed by a margin of 220-204.

Every Democratic member of the House in New Jersey voted yes on the bill: Donald Norcross, Andy Kim, Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallone, Tom Malinowski, Albio Sires, Bill Pascrell Jr., Donald Payne Jr., Mikie Sherrill and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

The state’s two Republican House members, Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, voted no.

Rep. Payne, who hails from the 10th District, said the bill would save U.S. taxpayers at least $3.6 billion per year in marijuana arrests and prosecutions.

“There are too many Black and Latino men languishing in prison for offenses that are no longer crimes in most states,” Payne said. “This bill would right the social and legal wrongs that put them there and give these Americans a fresh start. In addition, marijuana has been found to help Americans and our veterans handle chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. I am proud to support this bill, and hope the Senate passes it soon.”

‘CONGRESS IS FINALLY LISTENING’

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said the bill would allow states to legalize cannabis markets free from federal interference.

It’s only the second time in more than 50 years that a chamber of Congress has revisited the classification of cannabis as a federally prohibited substance, the group said.

“This vote is a clear indicator that Congress is finally listening to the vast majority of voters who are sick and tired of our failed marijuana criminalization policies and the damage they continue to inflict in communities across the nation every day,” NORML political director Morgan Fox said.

“It is long overdue that we stop punishing adults for using a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol, and that we work to address the disparate negative impacts that prohibition has inflicted on our most vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities for nearly a century,” Fox said.

New Jersey voters legalized recreational cannabis in November 2020. Now, adults 21 and over are allowed to consume cannabis on private property. Similar to New Jersey's alcohol laws, it's still illegal to smoke or consume marijuana in a public place, such as a park or the beach. Read More: 5 Things You Need To Know About Marijuana Legalization In NJ

New Jersey residents can't grow marijuana at home, but will be allowed to purchase cannabis at licensed dispensaries when they get clearance to do so. Read More: NJ Issues Landmark Wave Of Marijuana Business Licenses

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