Gov. Murphy supports move to allow police to alert parents about underage marijuana, alcohol use

Gov. Phil Murphy says that he supports a bill introduced by state Minority Leader Assemblyman Jon Bramnick changing how police can notify parents about underage marijuana and alcohol use.

News 12 Staff

Mar 9, 2021, 12:16 AM

Updated 1,317 days ago

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Gov. Phil Murphy says that he supports a bill introduced by state Minority Leader Assemblyman Jon Bramnick changing how police can notify parents about underage marijuana and alcohol use.
Under a law recently signed by Murphy, police are prohibited from telling the parents of a minor about an encounter with police surrounding underage marijuana or alcohol use if it is the first offense. Parents can only be notified after a second offense.
The law was part of a sweeping round of legislation to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in New Jersey. The portions of the law about how police interact with minors and underage use have drawn criticism from law enforcement unions and some Republicans.
Under Bramnick’s proposed bill, parents can be notified if their child is caught with marijuana and alcohol the first time they are caught by police.
The governor said on Monday that he supports the plan.
“I personally think that’s a step in the right direction. We will see where that goes…As a conceptional matter, I’ll put it that way, I support that direction,” Murphy said.
But the governor said that the bill still has to make its way through the state Legislature and that it was not on his desk to sign.