Mayor Ras J. Baraka today sent a letter to members of the NJ Urban Mayors’ Association asking them to join him in seeking to strengthen the social justice and home rule provisions of legislation pending in the state legislature to legalize adult use of cannabis.
“As the New Jersey Legislature seemingly hurtles toward the legalization of cannabis for adult use, there remain serious issues of social justice and equity; municipal self-determination and finances that are not adequately addressed in the pending legislation. Assemblyman Jamel Holley’s proposed legislation makes major strides in dealing with social justice concerns and provides a solid framework for dealing with the remaining issues. While I support legalization, I can only support legislation that goes even farther to remedy the damage to communities of color caused by years of cannabis prohibition. I urge you to join me in seeking passage of stronger legislation,” Mayor Baraka said.
Mayor Baraka is asking the legislature to strengthen social justice provisions regarding expungement of cannabis convictions, release of those jailed for cannabis convictions, licensing of those with prior cannabis convictions, and licensing within Social Impact Zones.
The full text of Mayor Baraka’s letter follows:
Dear Mayor,
As the New Jersey Legislature seemingly hurtles toward the legalization of cannabis for adult use, there remain serious issues of social justice and equity; municipal self-determination and finances that are not adequately addressed in the pending legislation. Assemblyman Jamel Holley’s proposed legislation makes major strides in dealing with social justice concerns and provides a solid framework for dealing with the remaining issues. While I support legalization, I can only support legislation that goes even farther to remedy the damage to communities of color caused by years of cannabis prohibition. I urge you to join me in seeking passage of stronger legislation.
Here’s why:
Social Justice/Equity Issues:
Racial disparities in cannabis law enforcement are intolerable, yet those disparities have persisted for generations. In New Jersey people of color are arrested for cannabis at a rate three times higher than whites. Cannabis prohibition has done serious damage to communities of color- taking parents away from their children, creating criminal records, preventing people from getting jobs and supporting their families. Half-way measures to correct a major social and racial inequity are not acceptable.
Municipal Self-Determination:
Finances
I ask you to join me and your fellow urban mayors in petitioning the legislature to not rush passage of cannabis legislation, but rather to take the time necessary to produce a law that will adequately deal with issues of social justice and home rule.
The NJ Urban Mayors’ Association includes the mayors of:
· Asbury Park
· Atlantic City
· Bayonne City
· Bloomfield
· Bridgeton
· Camden
· East Orange
· Elizabeth
· Hillside
· Hoboken
· Irvington
· Jersey City
· Kearny
· Lakewood
· Linden
· Millville
· Neptune
· New Brunswick
· Newark
· North Bergen
· Orange
· Passaic
· Paterson
· Perth Amboy
· Plainfield
· Pleasantville
· Roselle
· Trenton
· Vineland
· Wildwood
· Willingboro
· Woodbridge
- NEWARK -