Imagine if you’re underaged child is caught smoking marijuana and detained by police for the offense, but let go and you were never told. Imagine if that happened and the police offer who detained your pot smoking child can’t tell you about it because if he did, he could be reprimanded at work.
That’s exactly what is going to happen in New Jersey under the state’s new legalization of marijuana and one New Jersey Senator isn’t happy about it.
“Parents are hauled down to the police station if they let their 8-year-old walk to the park alone, but Democrats apparently think they shouldn’t even be notified if the same child is caught by police smoking pot or drinking alcohol,” said Testa (R-1). “It’s absolute insanity to say that parents don’t have a right to know.”
The legislation, S-3454, creates a written warning system for the underage possession or consumption of marijuana, hashish, and cannabis items.
For juveniles under the age of 18, parental notification would only be permitted upon a second offense.
Additionally, the legislation would apply the written warning system to underage alcohol possession, significantly weakening existing penalties.
Further, the bill places extremely strict limits on the ability of law enforcement to investigate violations, even when evidence is readily apparent.
“Every single teenager will know two minutes after this bill is signed into law that police will be powerless to stop them from drinking or smoking pot,” added Testa. “They’ll use the written warning they get to roll their next joint, which they’ll be able to do because the law will prevent police from searching for their stash even if they catch the kids in a cloud of smoke. It’s an embarrassment.”