On Monday February 22, Governor Phil Murphy signed three bills that legalized and decriminalized marijuana in New Jersey. This makes New Jersey the 14th state to legalize marijuana and the most populous state to do so in the Northeast. Murphy has publicly advocated for recreation and legalization since his campaign runs in 2016 but failed to secure the supporters. Legal sales are still months away as the state creates a heavily regulated industry large enough for the demand. It is expected to take some time to issue the proper licensing for dispensaries. You can legally buy/sell at a dispensary so long you are not under 21. The latest industry is projected to generate $126 million in revenue.

New Jersey historically has been the toughest enforcer of marijuana law. Marijuana possession accounted for 10.6% of arrests made state-wide by state, local, and federal authorities. In 2016 there was 33 thousand marijuana arrest made, more than murder, rape, assault or any type of theft. 36% of the marijuana possession arrest were African-American although blacks are only 13% of the state’s population. This legislation addresses the history and racial injustice of marijuana enforcement. The bill allows one to have up to 6 ounces of marijuana on a person. The bill also removes marijuana use or possession as a parole violation and can not be used as a condition for supervised release.

The FBI Present Evidence to Keep Casanova in Prison

According to AllHipHop, the government is opposing the release of rapper Casanova. After turning himself in on December 4th, Casanova is currently held in Westchester County Jail for intentionally manufacturing and distributing cocaine and marijuana. He is also charged for possessing a firearm.

Casanova’s lawyer came forward with a $2.5 million bail package, but prosecutors are still attempting to keep him in jail. His bail package includes five properties worth over $1.2 million and 13 cosigners who put up their salaries. Casanova is currently involved in the RICO case the government filed against The United Gorilla Stone Nation.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Gorilla Stone Nation, they are a street gang that has hundreds of members in New York, Florida, and North Carolina. They are allegedly responsible for multiple brutal slashings as well as a drug ring.

https://youtu.be/JOkJjnl4M0U

According to Acting United States Attorney Audrey Strauss, “While it is incredibly disturbing that the defendant used his now-deleted Instagram profile and public platform to shamelessly promote a violent street gang, his participation in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation enterprise ran much deeper than that. Right up until his arrest, the defendant was in the thick of Gorilla’s Stone’s dangerous and illicit activity.”

“Indeed, in the minutes and hours after the defendant realized law enforcement was looking for him, law enforcement stopped received geolocation data for the defendant’s cell phone, which is consistent with the cellphone being dropped,” Acting United States Attorney, Audrey Strauss told The Honorable Philip M. Halpern. “And he did not self surrender right away in Atlanta, where he was the day his arrest warrant was unsealed. It was only after several rounds of negotiations with counsel—and after the defendant seemingly dropped his cellphone and drove to New York from Atlanta—that the defendant surrendered two days later…while, in the end, the wisdom of counsel prevailed on him, the most telling insight into this defendant comes from his first reaction the day his arrest warrant was unsealed: he ran.”

He has also been recorded in conversations with the leader of the Gorilla Stone Nation, Dick Wolf.

Lil Wayne and Kodak Black Given Presidential Pardon

Preparing for his final days in office, Donald Trump has been giving out a few controversial presidential pardons. According to Bloomberg, he may be adding a few more people to that list. So far, the list seems to include senior White House officers, a few influential celebrities, and family members. There is even a rumor going around that he might aim to pardon himself from any future litigation.

In the last month or so Kodak Black was requesting release and was denied. Kodak is in prison for possession of weapons. He publicly tweets to Trump to give him a pardon. It seems other celebrities, like Lil Yachty has also requested for Black to be released.

Hey @realDonaldTrump my friend @KodakBlack1k deserves to be commuted. The system punished him way to hard for a paperwork crime #freekodak

— CONCRETE BOY BOAT^ (@lilyachty) January 4, 2021

Lil Wayne has also been a supporter of Trump for some time, so we will not be surprised when Trump extends his kindness to him. Wayne was only recently arrested and is now facing prison time. Wayne is currently on trial for his felony where he was illegally carrying a gold-plated 45-caliber Glock handgun and ammunition on his private jet last year.

So how can the presidential pardons actually help them? According to Nolo, “Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution designates the President as the only person with the power to grant pardons and reprieves for federal crimes.”

Is a $2,000 Stimulus Check Possible?

According to President-Elect Joe Biden, a third stimulus check might be coming if the democrats win Georgia. He says that if Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock beat the incumbent Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue, then “$2,000 checks will go out the door.” This one statement has the nation in a frenzy as it is the first time Biden publicly announces the possibility of a third stimulus check.

Biden’s opinion might be logical as Senate Republicans recently blocked a vote for the CASH act. The CASH act is a house-passed bill that would have increased the second checks from $600 to $2,000. It would have also increased the extra per-child second check from $600 to $2,000.

Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell states that the increase in the amount for the second wave stimulus checks was “socialism for the rich” because it would have enabled the wealthy to also receive the checks, not just those in need. Since Republicans make majority of the current senate, the vote didn’t pass and the CASH act was dismissed.

However, if Ossoff and Rev. Warnock gains seats at the senate, this means that Democrats will make majority of the senate, so the vote is more likely to pass, making the amount for the third check $2,000.