“As we mark the first three years of legalization in New Jersey, now is the time to both celebrate its successes and reflect on lessons learned.”
Author: Chris Goldstein, Regional NORML Organizer
This week, I received a Pardon Certificate for a marijuana offense from the President of the United States.
The Justice Department has finally opened up the process for those seeking Presidential pardon certificates for past marijuana convictions. I am one of those Americans.
It’s clear that cannabis consumers are targeted in Pennsylvania for arrest and the striking racial disparities to enforcement are getting worse.
“I feel exasperated that lawmakers have failed to enact this common sense policy reform,” said Delaware NORML’s Executive Director Laura Sharer. “While we the people are committed to ending prohibition in Delaware, it’s clear that our process and some of our lawmakers aren’t up to the task.”
It took a decade of legislative politics and nearly three million voters changing the New Jersey state constitution to end cannabis prohibition in the Garden State.
“Every single day that Harrisburg delays there are Pennsylvanians charged with marijuana possession and paraphernalia offenses.”
Black people make up 12 percent of the population but 32 percent of marijuana arrests.