Governor signs parent notification legislation

By: Stacey Barchenger
Trenton Bureau
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Governor Phil Murphy on Friday [03/26/2021] signed into law a bill requiring parents to be notified the first time their children are caught with marijuana or alcohol.
..... One day earlier, the sate Senate and Assembly sent the bill to Murphy's desk after unanimous votes.
..... Many lawmakers, police and parents considered requiring parental notification a necessary tune-up to the legal marijuana legislation signed by Murphy last month. [02/2021]
..... The legalization legislation required parents of anyone under 18 years old who was found possessing or suing marijuana or alcohol to be notified only after a second or subsequent offense. The bill singed into law Friday [03/26/2021] requires police to notify the parents also on a first offense.
.... Debate over the legalization laws, and appropriate penalties for minors, held up New Jersey's recreational marijuana market for nearly two months, ultimately leading to the latest bill.
..... Murphy, who demanded lawmakers address youth penalties, has called parental notification a "step in the right direction."
..... Murphy singed the bill without any public comment Friday. [03/26/2021]
..... Legislators who sponsored the measure said it would further discourage underage use and addiction.
.... "These substances are not meant for children," reads a statement from Assembly Democrats Herb Conaway of Burlington County, Shanique Speight of Essex County, and Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling of Monmouth County. "Diligent notification to their parents will allow for intervention and resources to be employed to help stop underage substance abuse early."
..... Other lawmakers called parental notification for any offense "common sense."
..... "Parental intervention at the first offense will help make sure it doesn't happen again," Senator Dawn Addiego, D-Burlington, said in a statement after the Senate sent the bill to Murphy. "We want the first offense to be the only offense."

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