New Jersey Town Imposes New Fines for Marijuana Possession
The New Jersey town of Norton will start imposing a new fine on anyone caught using marijuana in a public place, according to The Norton Patch. Article 17 was passed in a Norton town meeting recently. Under the current statewide law, anyone possessing an ounce or less of marijuana will face a $100 civil fine instead of having to face an arrest record and possible jail time. With the passing of Article 17, individuals who use marijuana in public in Norton will face a fine of $300.
New Jersey continues to crack down on marijuana use with harsh penalties including jail time and heavy fines. For example, possession of 50 grams of marijuana or fewer can result in a disorderly persons offense. While this type of charge is not as serious as a felony, it can still result in up to six months of jail time and a $1,000 fine. Additionally, if officials believe that the suspect had the drugs with the intention of distributing them, the charges will be increased to a felony with the potential for 18 months of incarceration.
The severity of the penalties that residents may face for a New Jersey marijuana offense is often based on the amount of drugs seized by the authorities and the criminal history of the defendant. A skilled drug crime defense attorney will fight to have the charges reduced or to have the case dismissed completely.
The Princeton drug crime defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein have years of experience handling marijuana cases in New Jersey. Our marijuana defense attorneys have extensive experience fighting wrongful charges and negotiating pleas. If you are facing marijuana charges in New Jersey, call our skilled drug crime defense attorneys at (609) 240-0040 for a free consultation.
