Recorded on 11/17/2020, Steve Adubato speaks with Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D) – NJ, Chair, Judiciary Committee, to discuss the next steps for the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey, it’s economic impact on the state and how legalizing marijuana impacts racial and social justice.

Voters said yes to legalizing marijuana in the Garden State, Scutari adds, “About 67% plurality in New Jersey, which allowed legislature to prepare a framework for the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey, beginning by January 1, 2021.” Under the 216-page bill, 15% of licenses for cannabis industries go to people of color, 15% to women and veteran-owned businesses, 25% to microbusinesses, and 25% to businesses in impact zones, or towns with 120,000 or more people or that meet specific demographic/criminal justice measures.

Sen. Scutari says he sees no roadblocks in implementing this law in 2021. He says, “I think we’ve put together a very comprehensive and complex piece of legislation, but one that touches all the right buttons and I believe it’s going to be well received.” The economic benefits of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey include the tax revenue that will be allocated to areas of need and most importantly, the creation of jobs in the state.

People of color are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people. Sen. Scutari says “The bill in, and of itself, is the epitome of a social justice reform…because those arrests are going to stop. I think that’s extraordinarily important for communities of color and communities that have been impacted [by] the war on drugs.”