It may be a day late to celebrate 4/20, but Delawareans in search of legal recreational weed may still have a reason to celebrate Thursday.
Thirteen of New Jersey’s medical marijuana dispensaries now sell weed to anyone 21 and older – and some of them are less than 45 minutes away from Delaware’s biggest city, though not all of them are open Thursday.
However, this proximity isn’t a go-ahead. Transporting weed across state lines is illegal, and depending on the amount in your possession, you could face prison time and hefty fines.
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Possessing less than an ounce of marijuana – an amount that was decriminalized in Delaware in 2019 – can rack up fines. And if police believe there’s an intent to deliver or distribute the drugs, they could press felony charges.
Like Delaware, medical weed has been available to qualifying New Jersey residents for over a decade. However, the First State’s Legislature has not approved measures to legalize recreational marijuana, even as politicians who oppose legalization acknowledge that it will likely happen eventually.
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A chief concern among those opposed is the danger of driving while under the influence of marijuana. As the law stands, police can pull someone over if they suspect them of driving while high. This also provides probable cause for officers to search a car.
Anyone suspected of driving under the influence, whether it be drugs or alcohol, also must submit to a drug test as part of Delaware’s “implied consent” law, according to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
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If a driver refuses to be tested, their license may be revoked for at least a year. This penalty comes in addition to any other consequences for the DUI, which can include fines and prison time.
More information about recreational marijuana purchases and use in New Jersey is available from the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
