In New Jersey, cannabis can be used legally for recreational and medical reasons. Despite that, underage people are not allowed to purchase, possess, or use it. If they are stopped by law enforcement and cited, they can face myriad consequences.
While many people do not believe that cannabis is a serious issue, it is still illegal for people under 18 to have and use it. When they are confronted with criminal allegations related to it, they must understand the law and take the necessary steps to avoid long-term problems because of it. This law also covers underage possession of alcohol.
Know the penalties for underage possession or consumption of alcohol or cannabis
If a person under 18 possesses or consumes alcohol cannabis at a school, on public transport, in a public place, a motor vehicle, or a place of public assembly, they can face various penalties. If it is a first-time violation, they will get a written warning.
A second violation will result in another written violation. These violations are maintained for the purpose of tracking how many times the juvenile has violated this law. The parent or guardian will also be informed in both the first and second instance.
When there is a third or subsequent violation, there will be another write-up, the parent or guardian will be notified, and social services with the opportunity for counseling, tutoring, and other ways to address a potential problem with cannabis. They can also be given a disorderly person offense and fined a minimum of $500.
Circumstances can make the situation far worse. If it happens in a motor vehicle, the person’s driving privileges can be suspended. And it is even more problematic if they were operating a vehicle at the time.
Make sure to forge a criminal defense for underage alcohol or cannabis charges
The stigma of cannabis has largely dissipated, but that does not mean people who are underage can possess and consume it legally. Teens are especially vulnerable to these legal missteps. The penalties might not seem significant. Still, having repeated write-ups and a potential fine for it can lead to challenges when trying to get certain jobs and to achieve other goals.
If it happened on school grounds, even in college, it could also lead to issues with the administration. There might be issues with financial aid, extracurricular activities and more. Before letting what should be a relatively minor infraction be a long-term obstacle, knowing how to craft a criminal defense for any and all cannabis or alcohol-related violations is key.