Asbury Park backs legalization of marijuana

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ASBURY PARK – The city’s leadership is supporting a movement to legalize marijuana in New Jersey.

The City Council has agreed to draft a resolution urging state lawmakers to decriminalize use of the drug which advocates say causes little or no harm to people.

The resolution would be a symbolic gesture, supporting efforts by the community group Help Not Handcuffs which has lobbied to stop law enforcement from arresting people for substance use.

Randy Thompson, founder of Help Not Handcuffs, said arrests for marijuana impose criminal records on people– deterring them from jobs and housing– for a minor offense. He also said marijuana enforcement distracts police from more serious crimes. He called on Asbury Park to make it the lowest law enforcement priority.

“This is a population that didn’t do any harm to a person or property,” Thompson said of people arrested for marijuana use. “As far as lethality, you’re...

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http://www.app.com/story/news/local/eatontown-asbury-park/asbury-park/2015/06/29/asbury-park-backs-legalization-marijuana/29491579/