New Jersey School Zone Marijuana Offense Penalties
In New Jersey, there are harsh penalties for marijuana possession and marijuana possession with intent to sell. These already harsh penalties can become even more serious if the incident that led to the arrest occurred within 1,000 feet of a school. In fact, the law now requires mandatory prison sentences for individuals convicted of a school zone marijuana crime in New Jersey.
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7, "Any person … distributing, dispensing or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog while on any school property used for school purposes which is owned by or leased to any elementary or secondary school or school board, or within 1,000 feet of such school property or a school bus, or while on any school bus, is guilty of a crime of the third degree and shall … be sentenced by the court to a term of imprisonment."
Penalties for marijuana possession in a school zone depend on the amount of marijuana seized by the authorities. Even in cases involving less than one ounce of marijuana, the resulting penalties can include imprisonment and substantial fines. A skilled attorney will examine the circumstances of the arrest, how the authorities seized the evidence, how much marijuana was found, and where the incident took place to begin building a defense against the school zone drug charges.
The New Jersey marijuana criminal defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein have decades of experience handing drug charges in New Jersey. Please contact us at (609) 240-0040 to find out how to protect your rights and begin building a winning defense.
