The New Jersey Judiciary has vacated or dismissed nearly 88,000 NJ cannabis cases related to marijuana and hashish convictions or pending cases since July 1st.
It is following the decriminalization of specific marijuana offenses in New Jersey.
The cases are the first of about 360,000 identified by the Judiciary in Superior and Municipal courts. They’re eligible to be automatically vacated, dismissed, and expunged under the New Jersey marijuana decriminalization law. It became effective on July 1st.
After vacating convictions or dismissing cases, the Judiciary will automatically expunge those cases in the coming months.
A Supreme Court order issued July 1st by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner directs cases for eligible offenses to be dismissed. It also allows warrants for failure to appear to be rescinded. The eligible fourth-degree and disorderly persons offenses relating to marijuana or hashish include distribution of certain quantities of the drugs, possession of certain quantities of the drugs, possession of paraphernalia; use or being under the influence of the drugs; and operating a motor vehicle while in possession of the drugs.
Related probation or pretrial monitoring violations will also be vacated. Driver’s license suspensions or revocations for failure to appear will be rescinded.
The order also directs the cases of eligible defendants pending sentencing or completing sentencing to be vacated and dismissed.
The Judiciary is also creating an electronic system. It will allow staff to provide a certification to people seeking to determine whether their case has been expunged.
Cases with charges that are not eligible for dismissal under the new law will not be expunged.
