Most parents have some version of the drug conversation with their kids. Almost none of it covers what actually happens if police get involved, which is the part where a teenager’s assumptions do the most damage.
New Jersey changed these rules substantially in 2021, and the version circulating among high school students is a garbled mix of the old law, the new law and something someone’s cousin said. It is worth being the adult in your house who knows the difference.
What Changed, and What Did Not Cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over. It is not legal for anyone younger, and that gap is where families get caught.
For a person under 21 found with cannabis or alcohol, New Jersey replaced criminal charges with a graduated written warning system. A first violation produces a written warning. Later violations escalate, and information is collected so that a parent or guardian can be notified.
The part your teenager has probably already heard Under this framework, a person under the legal age is not to be arrested, transported to a police station, or otherwise taken into custody at or near the location, beyond what is needed to issue the warning. The officer takes possession of the su...