Drug Laws

New Jersey has experienced a significant drop in the number of reports to the state’s poison hotline regarding bath salts since the designer drugs were banned. Officials say this is evidence that the ban is working to curb usage of the dangerous synthetic drugs. [Read more…] about Officials Say Ban Has Curbed “Designer” Drugs

“We as Americans are taught when accused we have a right to a trial, but in reality the system does everything it can to prevent a citizen from going to trial. The Goliath of government is always bullying citizens into plea bargains etc. or dismissing the case after destroying the citizen’s life. I’m different. I want a trial.” [Read more…] about NJWeedman To Be Back In Court for Retrial

The medical marijuana registry in New Jersey opened last week on August 9. Unlike in Arizona, where 718 people applied in the program’s first week, New Jersey’s program is off to a slow start. The reason? The standards are difficult to meet, the pot is too expensive, and it’s also very weak. [Read more…] about New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program Rollout Slow

New Jersey Governor has joined the ranks of politicians and officials denouncing the War on Drugs as a failure. He made the statement last week while speaking at the Brookings Institution.

“The war on drugs, while well-intentioned, has been a failure. We’re warehousing addicted people everyday in state prisons in New Jersey, giving them no treatment.”

According to the Huffington Post, Christie used the opportunity to applaud his own efforts, recently passed legislation that mandates drug treatment for offenders instead of jail time. The new program is slated to start this upcoming year, beginning with three counties and eventually spreading throughout the state.

Christie pointed to the economics of the drug war as proof of its failure, saying, “It costs us $49,000 a year to warehouse a prisoner in New Jersey state prisons last year. A full year of inpatient drug treatment costs $24,000 a year.”

He, like a growing number of Americans, recognizes the problems with incarcerating otherwise nonviolent offenders for drug crimes, spending thousands to hold them for years only to release them back into the same situation that led them to the system in the first place.

While not everyone is certain that mandatory drug treatment can help – many think addicts won’t recover unless it is willingly — it is, without question, a step in the right direction.

Even if the offender struggles to get clean and conquer addiction, if treatment saves this kind of money, it’s worth it if for nothing more than the financial costs.

But chances are good that treatment will do more than just save money.

When you send someone to prison, you don’t only incarcerate their body, you change them internally. Institutionalization is a real occurrence, causing otherwise independent and otherwise upstanding people to become the stereotypical criminal or prisoner. This creates a greater chance of recidivism even among the first-time nonviolent drug offender.

Drug treatment, on the other hand, addresses things like the reasons for addiction, the things that led a person to drugs, and helps create a more productive frame of mind for the offender.

Obviously, this can be difficult for people who aren’t ready for treatment or don’t want to hear what someone else has to say is good for them. But, in the long run, treatment is a far better alternative than prison.

If you are charged with a drug offense in the state of New Jersey, you need someone on your side who is familiar with the laws and the options available to you. Contact our offices today to discuss your case and how we might be able to help.

The NJWeedman is back, and he is trying to shake up the system with a bold legal defense  against felony charges he is facing for possession of a pound of marijuana found in the back of his car.

Edward Forchion is due in court on April 10, from charges originating from a 2010 police stop. He obtained the pot legally in California where he previously operated a legal medical marijuana dispensary.

His defense strategy is to argue that the New Jersey marijuana laws themselves are unfair given that NJ passed a medical marijuana law, yet the NJ marijuana possession statute states explicitly that marijuana has no legitimate uses.

His views and personality make Mr. Forchion something of a cause celeb amount libertarians, Rastafarians, and medical marijuana advocates. He is a leader in the marijuana legalization movement nationwide.

Governor Chris Christie announced this week that he would like to see drug treatment be mandatory for nonviolent drug offenders that have substance abuse problems. While some are worried that making it mandatory could ruin the treatment experience of those who actually want help, most are applauding the Governor’s plan.

According to the Inquirer, Christie’s plan would take at least a year to get started, but lawmakers in both chambers have already introduced the legislation.

In the meantime, in an effort to help those who are already serving time, Christie wants to offer treatment to 1,000 to 1,500 of those in prison who need help with addiction.

The plan would cost an estimated $2.5 million to implement and would serve as many as 7,000 people annually, in the long run. Currently, it costs $49,000 a year to incarcerate someone, so this move to treatment instead of prison time would ultimately save the state on the front end and possible on the back end by lowering recidivism.

Treatment officials say the $2.5 million initial investment would only pay for an additional 50 beds, treating 200 to 800 people annually. Eventually, they say, it will cost much more.

But finances aren’t the only concern—drug treatment could help many people in ways that money simply doesn’t matter. And right now, many people are being turned away from drug treatment because the facilities simply don’t exist.

If you are charged with a drug crime, there are drug courts in each county now. These courts mandate treatment instead of incarceration. But, if you’re not accused of a crime, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to find any cost-effective drug treatment.

About half of people who qualify to have their cases heard in drug court, turn it down. They simply aren’t ready to get help, for whatever reason. Some are worried that mandating treatment will bring people who aren’t ready for help into contact with those who are and potentially mess up the treatment experience for those willing to lay drugs down permanently.

Christie, however, believes it needs to be done. “If we mandate people to jail, we can mandate people to treatment.”

When you are addicted to drugs, you can turn to extreme measures in order to get them. Sometimes, you can make bad choices that lead to your arrest. If you are charged with a crime, we may be able to help you get the help you need. Contact our offices today to discuss your case.