decriminalization

Lawmakers tell the acting attorney general that police remain wary of approaching young people with marijuana under the marijuana decriminalization law.

Cases eligible under the Marijuana Decriminalization Law are expunged automatically, wiping them from the courts' public record and absolving past offenders from having to report their charges on job, housing, or college applications.

The latest impact of New Jersey's recreational marijuana law has come into the fold as nearly 88,000 cases related to certain marijuana and hashish convictions or pending cases have been vacated or dismissed.

Senate votes 29-4 to decriminalize the posession of up to 6 ounces of marijuana. Assembly schedules a Monday voting session, but no word if a vote is planned.

Twenty weeks before New Jersey voters will decide whether to legalize marijuana, an Assembly committee Monday voted to decriminalize it.

Expungement of criminal records advanced easily. But vote on switching to civil fine for possession was shelved, revived, then advanced without discussion.