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:

1.​ ​Expungement.​ Persons convicted of possession or distribution of ​any​ quantity of cannabis
should be eligible to have their records expunged without limit. It is illogical and unfair to
continue to penalize people for the same behavior that we are now authorizing as a legal
business.
2.​ ​Release from Jail​. By the same principle, anyone presently jailed for possession or
distribution of ​any​ quantity should be immediately released from imprisonment.
3.​ ​Licensing Requirements​. Those convicted of possession or distribution of ​any​ quantity of
cannabis should be eligible for a license. With the end of prohibition, bootleggers were allowed
to become producers and distributors of alcoholic beverages. Just as America once recognized
that prohibition of alcoholic beverages was a mistake, we must now recognize that prohibition of
cannabis is a mistake and not continue to punish the victims of that mistake.
4​ . ​Impact Zones​. Social Impact Zones to compensate the people whose areas have been
damaged by the marijuana prohibition is a necessary idea. But the concept needs teeth lacking in
proposed legislation. All licenses in those zones should be reserved for residents of those zones,
and programs should be mandated and funded in those zones to train residents in the financing
and operation of a cannabis business. In Newark, we are already developing a program to help
local residents interested in becoming involved in the cannabis industry.
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:
 1. Municipalities and not state regulators should have the authority to issue licenses or
decide to prohibit licenses, decide how many licenses are appropriate for their
municipality and determine where dispensaries, growing and processing facilities
should be located. Local governing bodies are best equipped to reflect the will of their
constituents.

Finances
1. Five percent of the state tax revenues generated within a municipality by legalization
should go directly to that municipality for programs related to cannabis enforcement,
regulation, education and aiding the establishment of local cannabis businesses.
2. The estimated $305 million in tax revenue also should make its way back to
participating cities in part unrestricted to further investments in workforce development
and training opportunities for youth and young adults, mental health and trauma care
and the preservation of affordable housing.

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