A dispensary worker vending jars of cannabis.
New Jersey will use part of its marijuana revenue to fund violence prevention programs in the state, showcasing how cannabis earnings can drive positive change in society.
Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin have recently announced that part of the revenue from legal marijuana sales in New Jersey will pay for one-third of a grant initiative focused on stopping and preventing violence within the state.
Out of the total $15 million available as grants to community organizations in the upcoming fiscal year, $5 million comes from New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund, designed to invest in communities that were most affected by the marijuana prohibition, and consists of funds collected through taxes on legal marijuana sales, industry fees, and fines.
As reported by Marijuana Moment, part of that money comes from the state’s Cannabis Impact Zone Funds, which help areas unfairly affected by the war on drugs. To be able to get these funds, applicants need to be working in places called impact zones. These zones are determined by several factors, such as having many people convicted for marijuana-related activities, being targeted by law enforcement more than in other areas, and having high unemployment rates.
With this new $15-million fund, the state has contributed a total of $40 million to support Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI)…
