Philly420: Marijuana reform bills greet Gov. Chris Christie

Cannabis is once again a hot topic in Trenton.

A few marijuana reform bills have been filed in the New Jersey Assembly just in time for Gov. Chris Christie's return from New Hampshire.

Here's a rundown:

A2216 would allow medical marijuana facilities to be located on tracts of protected NJ farmland. Sponsored by Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Red Bank), the bill would also prohibit county or municipal governments from interfering with a dispensary opening on such land. The six medical marijuana Alternative Treatment Centers licensed in 2011 had some difficulties after some towns refused to approving zoning permits for their construction. If the program ever expands, this measure could help.

A2482, sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Burlington), would offer some additional workplace protections for registered medical marijuana patients. The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act already includes language that stops any hiring or termination discrimination but patients have still lost employment. Rather than outright stating that employees can not be fired, the bill sets up a procedure if such action is taken. A similar bill was approved last year by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A2068 deals with full legalization. Sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), the bill would allow adults 21 and over to access a retail market and grow their own. The bill proposes allowing possession up to 1 ounce, regular sales tax of 7 percent to be charged on products and for home cultivation of up to 6 plants. The Division of Alcoholic and Beverage Control would oversee commercial cultivation and regulate stores. Gusciora proposes that 70 percent of the taxes would be allotted toward the transportation fund to help pay for repairing the state's crumbling infrastructure.

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) held an information gathering hearing last year on legalization. Colorado sold just under $1 billion of legal cannabis last year. New Jersey has almost double the population as Colorado and could see more than $200 million in tax revenue with a regulated market.

Finally, the bill with the most co-sponsors is a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession. A2050 is sponsored by Assemblyman Gusciora and Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris). The bill would remove criminal penalties for 15 grams or less. Instead a civil fine of $100 for the first offense, $200 for a second offense and $500 for third or subsequent offenses will be imposed. Those caught ages 18-20 or those with third and additional offenses would also be required undergo a drug education class. The bill would also downgrade possession of marijuana paraphernalia to a civil fine of $100.

The exact same bill passed the NJ Assembly in 2012 in a 44-30 vote, but the Senate never took up the measure.

New Jersey's marijuana arrests have been steadily increasing. They are now at a historic high of almost 25,000 per year. They also have a stark racial disparity not seen in other drug possession arrests.

Christie promised a veto of decrim back in 2012. But things have shifted significantly for him and the issue in the last four years.

New York City has gone from arresting 50,000 people each year for pot down to 17,000 under a new policy that is not quite decrim but close. Philadelphia has seen an 80 percent reduction in marijuana arrests since actual decriminalization was enacted in 2014. Maryland and Delaware have taken the civil citations for weed statewide. More importantly Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alaska and Washington DC have fully legalized.

The NJ Senate voted to over-ride a Christie veto for the first time last year on a gun-control bill. Democrats also now have a slight edge in the NJ Assembly where decrim enjoys bi-partisan support.

More NJ Republicans are also warming to the issue, including Senator Joe Kyrillos, who came out in favor of decriminalizing marijuana last year.

Christie has also become increasingly critical of the overall War on Drugs. He says he now favors treatment over criminal enforcement.

Between 2009 and 2013 there were 136,454 marijuana possession arrests in New Jersey. That is more than double the 65,621 arrests in the same time period for cocaine, heroin and opiate possession combined.

Christie has certainly been one of the country's loudest marijuana prohibitionists. During his now-ended bid for the presidency he promised to enforce federal cannabis laws and crack down on legalized states. Obviously, that message did not resonate in New Hampshire where 60 percent of voters favor legalization.

While no one is expecting Christie to come around fully on the issue, decriminalization does fit with his overall messaging.

Even if New Jersey could cut marijuana possession arrests in half, it would save almost $30 million per year.

That's money that could be spent to treat those addicted to prescription painkillers and heroin.

It is certainly something for Christie to consider as he gets back to work at home.